Fayetteville-Manlius students are celebrating a strong showing following the 2025 Central New York Science and Engineering Fair Competition, held on March 30 at the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) in Syracuse.
From FMHS, sophomores Laila Duggal and Yusuf Ay and senior Deniz Gursoy won several awards. From Eagle Hill Middle School, Meenakshi Thangadurai, Makizh Balaji, and Ali M. Bharmal took home four awards.
Laila’s project, titled “Artificial intelligence generated content: Measuring implicit bias in large language models,” looked at how societal prejudices can be unintentionally learned and amplified by the AI systems increasingly shaping our information landscape. She won the following awards:
- American Psychological Association Award
- Arcovo AI Award
- IEEE Award in Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Le Moyne College Excellence in Mathematics & Computer Science Award
- Lockheed Martin Award
- Senior Division High Honors
- New York State Science Congress Finalists
Laila was also one of three students to advance to the 2025 Science Teachers Association of NYS Science Congress in Syracuse (STANYS). Laila will present her work in front of other science educators and organizers.
Yusuf’s project, titled “Machine Learning Identifies miRNA Biomarkers for
Dementia Linked to Vision and Neurodevelopmental Disorders” employs machine learning to predict dementia using miRNA biomarkers. He worked on this project with Colgate University professors, and used machine learning tools to find his results. He won the following awards:
- IEEE Award in Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Terra Science and Education Award
- Senior Division High Honors
“I’m incredibly grateful for the strong computer science and biology foundation that our school has provided, which allowed me to complete my project successfully,” said Yusuf.
Deniz used molecular dynamics simulations to study how three common PFAS chemicals interact with cell membrane models. PFAS, often found in products like non-stick cookware, are known for their environmental persistence and health risks. These insights help us better understand how PFAS affect human health and could guide future efforts to reduce their impact. Deniz won the following awards:
- U.S. Metric Association Award
- CNY Section of the American Chemical Society Award
- Senior Division Highest Honors
- International Science & Engineering Fair Finalist (ISEF)
Deniz was also one of two ISEF Finalists, and will go on to compete at the world’s largest international STEM research competition for high school students in May. Deniz, chosen from a group of 57 students, will join top STEM students from around the world in Columbus, Ohio, to present his work in front of judges.
Meenakshi, Makizh, and Ali created a project called, “Rethink your Drink…
Choose Healthier Options.” The students were awarded the following accolades:
- CNY Section of the American Chemical Society Awards
- Terra Science & Education Award
- Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge 2025 Award
- CNY SEF 2025 Highest Honors Award
You can find a full list of winners by following this link. Congratulations to all of our F-M students for their hard work!