St. Francis High School senior named a finalist in global Breakthrough Junior Challenge
The Breakthrough Prize Foundation announced the top finalists in this year's sixth annual Breakthrough Junior Challenge. Included in the group of 15 finalists is St. Francis High School student Gianni Petrillo, Class of 2021, for his video entry on the topic of dark matter. Gianni, along with the other finalists, comprise a remarkable group of students narrowed down from 5,600 original worldwide applicants.
"I was thrilled when I learned that I was a finalist in Breakthrough!," the Batavia teen said. "I think I checked the website 20 times on Monday. I feel a strong sense of relief and gratitude. This competition represents excellence on an international scale, and I am humbled by it and extremely grateful."
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge, organized by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, is an annual global competition for students to inspire creative thinking about science. This year, students, age 13 to 18 from countries across the globe, were invited to create and submit original videos that bring to life a concept or theory in the life sciences, physics, or mathematics.
"The quality of the videos this year is extremely high," said Julia Milner, co-founder of the Breakthrough Prize. "It's really thrilling to see young people communicating these big ideas with such intelligence, as well as freshness and creativity."
The 15 top-scoring finalist videos will be reviewed by the Selection Committee, comprising: Ian Agol, math professor at University of California, Berkeley, and Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics laureate; Rachel Crane, CNN space and science correspondent; author and educator Lucy Hawking; Dr. Mae Jemison, science literacy expert, former astronaut, and principal, 100 Year Starship; retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly; Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy; Ijad Madisch, CEO and co-founder of ResearchGate; Terence Tao, math professor at UCLA and Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics laureate; Esther Wojcicki, founder of Palo Alto High Media Arts Center; Pete Worden, chairman of Breakthrough Prize Foundation and executive director of Breakthrough Initiatives; and Huda Zoghbi, a professor of pediatrics, neuroscience and molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine and Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences laureate.
The winner of the Breakthrough Junior Challenge will be awarded a $250,000 college scholarship. The science teacher who inspired the winning student will win a $50,000 prize. The winner's school also will receive a state-of-the-art science lab valued at $100,000.
"A state-of-the-art science lab, in my view, would provide students an area with cutting-edge equipment and technology that would encourage collaboration, discussion, and exploration for testing student-generated scientific ideas," said Dr. Tom Juliano, science department teacher at the Wheaton high school. "It may help students delve further into areas of astronomy, microscopy, and environmental science."
Gianni adds "If I were able to win the $100,000 science lab for my beloved St. Francis, that would be so satisfying! When I approached my mom last year about entering the competition, she immediately supported the idea. I put my heart into it and I'm very happy I did. It pays to get involved, dream big, and go for it."
The winner receives the prize at the annual Breakthrough Prize ceremony, alongside the new Prize laureates representing some of the most acclaimed scientists in the world. This year, due to the pandemic, the ceremony has been postponed, and is now planned for March 2021.
For information, visit SFHSCollegePrep.org.