2025 High School Summer Research Symposium
Featuring SpHERES, AEOP, & Grainger Engineering Young Scholars
Friday, August 1, 2025
On Friday, August 1, 2025, the summer’s research experience for high school students came to an end with a showcase and celebration. Twenty two high school researchers and their mentors participated in 6 weeks of study and research with the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), the Sparking High Schooler’s Excitement for Research in Engineering and Science (SpHERES) program, and the Grainger Engineering Young Scholars (GEnYuS) program.
This symposium featured research projects from various research groups. The high school students were mentored by faculty and students at the University of Illinois, and high school educators provided an added layer of mentoring during this expanded experience.
Young Scholars Program |
Program Name |
Coordinator |
|
SpHERES |
Sparking High Schooler’s Excitement for Research in Engineering and Science |
Nicole del Castillo and Florence Adibu |
|
AEOP |
Army Educational Outreach Program |
Rosa M. Espinosa Marzal |
|
GEnYuS |
Grainger Engineering Young Scholars |
Lara Hebert |
Symposium Posters
SpHERES Engineering Biomaterials to Study Brain Cancer - Ellis Zimmerman (University High School), Solomon Garrison (Champaign Central High School)
Mentors:
Maya Aviram and Chia-Wen Chang
Project Lead:
Sara Pedron-Haba
SpHERES Web and Cellphone-based Hemocytometer - Bincy Lawrence (University High School), Hazel Tracy (Urbana High School)
Mentors:
Shengwei Chen, Chaojie Zhang, and Hongqiang Ma
Project Lead:
Yang Liu
SpHERES Preschooler Responsiveness to Mindfulness Programming: Refining a Rubric to Measure Engagement, Attentiteness, and Disruptiveness - Genisis Walker (Urbana High School), Hadassah Mayombo (The High School of Saint Thomas More)
Mentor:
Jacinda K. Dariotis and Rachel Jackson-Gordon
Project Lead:
Dana Eldreth
GEnYuS Quantum Sensing with Diamonds - Diana Diamani (Centennial High School), Stephaine Bermeo (Prosser Career Academy)
Mentors:
Cole Brookhouse and Riley Kibbee
Project Lead:
Doug Beck
GEnYuS Simulating Electrons in H2 & H2O - Evan Lin (Francis Howell Central High School), Patrick Neibel-Spruill (Lane Technical High School)
Mentors:
Rohan Joshi, Young-Jae Choi, and Hans Manganti
Project Lead:
Lucas Wagner
GEnYuS Automated Two-Dimensional Quantum Materials Exfoliation - Oliver Minin (Vaubonsie Valley High School), Nolan Kopp (Hermann High School)
Mentors:
Xiangyi Du and Lily Guo
Project Lead:
Pengjie Wang
GEnYuS Visualizing Spacetime: Supercomputer Simulations of Black Hole Coalescence - SriRitvik Yellamilli (Metea Valley High School), Madeleine Smith (Southland College Prep Charter High School)
Mentors:
Elena Koptieva and Frederick Pardoe
Project Lead:
Helvi Witek
GEnYuS STEM + Quantum Science Programs - Makayla Lopez (Intrinsic High School), Kanyn Wilks (Lindblom High School)
Project Lead:
Eric Schneider and Greg Feltman
GEnYuS Exploring Viable Alternatives to Silicon Using VASP Simulations - Jayden Mwesige (Champaign Central High School), Jared Serrano (Champaign Central High School)
Mentors:
Doruk Uçar and Isiah Ramos
Project Lead:
Elif Ertekin