CAZ ACS at ISEF 2026: Recognizing Outstanding Chemistry
The Central Arizona Section of the American Chemical Society was proud to take part in judging the American Chemical Society Special Award at the 2026 International Science and Engineering Fair, held May 9 to 15, 2026 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Over two days, a group of more than ten CAZACS members judged in person, joined by additional online judges who submitted feedback remotely. Together they evaluated over 65 high level chemistry projects from student finalists around the world.
ACS Special Award Winners
First Award: $4,000
Name: Meng-Hsuan Lee
School: Taipei First Girls High School
Country: Chinese Taipei
Project: Dual-Functional Vaccine Adjuvant for Amplifying Immunity (CHEM014)
Second Award: $3,000
Name: Benedikt Kienle
School: Lancaster Country Day School, Lancaster, PA
Country: United States
Project: New Green Chemistry Iridium Catalysts (CHEM032)
Third Award: $2,000 (two recipients)
Names: Theekarn Limmahakhun and Panida Kijcharoenvisal
School: Kamnoetvidya Science Academy, Rayong
Country: Thailand
Project: Facile Synthesis of Novel Rhodamine Derived Dual Mode Colorimetric and Fluorescent Sensor for Mercury(II) Detection in Water (CHEM056T)
Fourth Award: $1,000
Name: Mingeon Shin
School: Iolani School, Honolulu, HI
Country: United States
Project: Computational Investigation of Electronic and Geometric Effects of Ligand Architecture on Homolytic Bi–S Bond Cleavage in Diaryl Bismuth Thiophenolate Complexes (CHEM060)
Diploma of Recognition and $100 Gift Card
Name: Lili Szokolai
School: ELTE's Radnóti Miklós Affiliated Secondary School, Budapest
Country: Hungary
Project: Development of Peptide Drug Conjugates Targeting Glioblastoma Cells (CHEM006)
Name: Pardhiva Penna
School: Plano East Senior High School, Plano, TX
Country: United States
Project: Synthesis and Chemical Stability of L Citrulline Ethyl Ester Across Alkaline Conditions (CHEM027)
Name: Melody McCloskey
School: HomeLife Academy, Germantown, TN
Country: United States
Project: Toward Next Generation Plastics: Quantifying the Donor Ability of Schiff Base Ligands for Olefin Polymerization Catalysis (CHEM061)
Name: Margaret Saperstein
School: Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, VA
Country: United States
Project: The Effect of Different Rapidly Composed, Biodegradable Hydrogel Formulations on Adhesion, Fire Retardation, and Viscosity (CHEM064)
Thank You to Our Volunteer Judges
None of this happens without volunteers. CAZACS extends its thanks to everyone who gave their time to review projects, both in person and online. Congratulations to all the finalists on the caliber of their work.
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