2012 California State Science Fair
Science Fair Student of the Year

The award citation at the Awards Ceremony reads:

The California State Science Fair Student of the Year award represents more than just academic excellence. The Student of the Year is also a well-rounded individual who performs community service, has interests and hobbies outside of science, and is someone who shows leadership to their peers. This year’s winner embodies all of this and more.

Our Student of the Year has a passion for science and a strong sense of community and the future. This student is enthusiastic about improving the experiences of others through membership on the Principal’s Advisory council, volunteer work in afterschool programs, and with parents’ help, the establishment of a tuition-free school in India.

Our recipient has earned awards for science research, including the U.S. Naval Research Award, Yale Science and Engineering Award, and the California Association of Professional Scientists Best Science Project in 2011. This student is a National Merit Scholar and scholarship recipient for 2012 and has been chosen by the Department of State to serve as a youth ambassador to China.

Our recipient likes to play golf, ski, and write children’s books, two of which have been published – one of them in Chinese.

Please join me in applauding our 2012 California State Science Fair Student of the Year — from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills Estates, Los Angeles County — Sulekha Ramayya!

Sulekha S. Ramayya presented the following project this year: S0625.