Maharishi School was named the most successful school at the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa, held March 26-27 in Ames, Iowa, winning the prestigious Claison “Clay” Groff Memorial Traveling Trophy.

From throughout Iowa, 636 junior and senior high school students representing more than 77 schools and 38 counties exhibited more than 500 projects, competing for prizes, awards and scholarships.

“This is a dream come true,” said science fair advisor Asha Sharma, who has guided students to the competition since 2018.

“We were competing against schools 50 times our size,” said Dr. Richard Beall, head of the school. “We have had a long history of success in science and STEM-related activities. But this is the first time in the 20-year history of the award that we were recognized as the most outstanding school. This is a tribute to the enthusiasm our teachers generate and to the students’ own natural curiosity and determination in exploring questions of interest.”

In addition to the all-school honor, four students claimed top awards, with three advancing to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May.

Students shine with groundbreaking research

“My research developed a low-cost, noninvasive test to detect tau proteins — key biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease — using tear fluid and molecularly imprinted polymers instead of antibodies. By incorporating these polymers into colorimetric lateral flow strips, the study offers a promising alternative to traditional, invasive diagnostic methods, with potential for widespread, early detection in underserved populations.”

— Antariksha Sharma

Antariksha Sharma, named grand champion of the science fair for her innovative Alzheimer’s research, won first place in the Biochemistry category, won the Iowa Biotech Scholarship, won the “Six Year Dedication to Science Award, and was named a finalist to the International Science and Engineering Fair. She discovered a way to detect early signs of neurological degeneration by measuring the level of a key protein in a person’s tears. This can potentially give people a quick, low-cost way to determine whether they need additional testing.

“This project developed a data-driven mentor-mentee matching system that connects trauma-exposed youth with mentors who share similar lived experiences, aiming to foster emotional growth and resilience. Early findings show that trauma-informed mentorship improves trust, engagement, and well-being, with plans to expand the program using AI-powered analysis and scalable implementation strategies.”

— Trent Heffner

Trent Hefner won top honors in Behavioral and Social Sciences, was also a ISEF finalist, and was a Grand Honorable Mention for his project entitled “Empathy-Powered Pairing.” Inspired by his own experiences, Trent developed a trauma-informed algorithm to match at-risk youth with mentors who overcame similar struggles.

Sohni Singh came home with an armload of awards. She won the first place award in Physics and Astronomy. She won the Iowa Special Award from the Iowa State University Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, which recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of nondestructive evaluation (the science of detecting flaws and imperfections in materials to ensure their structural integrity without causing damage). And she won a $1,000 scholarship from Loras College. Her research grew out of her concern about EMF radiation, specifically radiofrequency radiation emitted by cell phones. Sohni tested commercial cell phone cases for their claimed ability to block radiofrequency exposure. She also created a phone case of her own using simple materials like aluminum foil — and found its protection comparable to store-bought varieties.

Xiaohan Wang was the Biochemistry second-place winner and an ISEF finalist. Xiaohan studied green tea’s potential to prevent cognitive decline in aging populations. Besides being a lover of green tea, he was motivated to discover an affordable way to prevent dementia.

Of the twelve competition categories, Maharishi School won three and placed second in a fourth.

Next stop: international competition

Antariksha, Trent, and Xiaohan will compete at the ISEF in Columbus, Ohio, joining peers from 64 countries. The event includes rigorous judging, a college recruitment fair, and social activities like a DJ-powered student mixer.

With the school trophy and standout student achievements, Maharishi School continues to make its mark in STEM excellence.

See the list of award winners here.

Photos: Banner photo by Andy Hallman, Southeast Iowa Union. Other photos by Asha Sharma.