A Program of the Alabama Academy of Science
February 28, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today the Gorgas Scholarship Committee announced the rankings of the finalists of the 2025 Alabama Science Scholar Search. The final competition was held during the 102nd Annual Meeting of the Alabama Academy of Science at Troy University Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama, held on February 27th and 28th 2025.
The winner of the first-place tuition grant of $4000 was:
Bao, Will, Auburn High School, Teacher-Sponsor: Jacque Middleton
First alternate and winner of a tuition grant of $3000 was:
Sagi, Srihansi, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Teacher-Sponsor: Hungsin Chin
Second alternate and winner of a tuition grant of $2000 was:
Anand, Ashu, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Teacher-Sponsor: Hungsin Chin
Third alternate and winner of a tuition grant of $1500 was:
Behara, Aanchal, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Teacher-Sponsor: Hungsin Chin
Fourth alternate and winner of a tuition grant of $1000 was:
Belew, John, Wetumpka Highschool, Teacher-Sponsor: Virginia Vilardi
Unranked Finalists:
The rankings were established by a panel of judges consisting of department heads, deans and professors from many of the leading universities and industries in Alabama. Winners and finalists in the Gorgas Contest receive offers of tuition scholarships to colleges and universities in Alabama for the study of science. The Gorgas Scholarship Program is named for General William Crawford Gorgas, the Alabama physician who conquered yellow fever in the Panama Canal Zone and later became the Surgeon General of the United States Army. The purposes of the Gorgas competition are to promote interest in science and to aid in the education of promising students.
Information on the annual competition and awards may be found on the website at www.GorgasScholar.org. For further information, contact: Ellen Buckner, PhD, RN, CNE, Chairman, Gorgas Scholarship Competition, ellen.buckner@samford.edu OR ebbuckner@gmail.com , or by phone (205) 910-9877.
Abrams, James, Wetumpka High School, Teacher-Sponsor: Virginia Vilardi
Arya, Rhea, Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School, Teacher-Sponsor: David Boone
French, Jessica, Murphy High School, Teacher-Sponsor: Julie Prerost
Patel, Esha, Alabama School of Math and Science, Teacher-Sponsor: Natalie Ortell
Saha, Sahishnu, James Clemens High School, Teacher-Sponsor: Kathryn Weir
Sharma, Prisha, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Teacher-Sponsor: Dreama White
Vilardi, Lillian, Wetumpka High School, Teacher-Sponsor: Virginia Vilardi
Wu, Edwin, Montgomery Academy, Teacher-Sponsor: Jay Rye
