MADISON – Yewon Lee from James Clemens High School and Maanasi Limaye from Bob Jones High School were Alabama’s sole representatives for the 38th annual Research Science Institute or RSI.

The Center for Excellence in Education or CEE welcomed 81 top-achieving scholars from 31 U.S. states and 13 international high schools. Massachusetts Institute of Technology or MIT co-sponsored the institute.

The students convened virtually for the prestigious, six-week summer program from June 27 to Aug. 7. In academic research, they conducted original, cutting-edge research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM. CEE’s headquarters are in McLean, Va.

“We are so pleased to make innovative use of technology to deliver this unique program,” CEE President Joann P. DiGennaro said.

Students at the institute learned about careers, achievements and challenges of STEM. The young delegates heard presentations with RSI’s Distinguished Guest Lecture Series. Guest lecturers included industry professionals, university professors, researchers, physicians and entrepreneurs. Dr. Jamie L. Wells, who attended the institute as a student in 1991, led the 2021 event.

CEE offers the institute cost-free to students, who are selected competitively for STEM expertise. The center uses a panel to review students’ high school records, personal essays, standardized test scores, teacher recommendations, research, potential for leadership and awards in math and science.

The institute includes one week of theoretical classroom work, followed by 4.5 weeks of cutting-edge research with mentorship of leading scientists, engineers and researchers in the students’ respective areas of interest. In their final week, students demonstrate their research work through written academic papers and oral presentations to peers and a judging panel.

Back at James Clemens, Lee earned gold honors for Medical Math with Health Occupation Students of America or HOSA. She qualified twice for both National Chemistry Olympiad and American Invitational Mathematics Exam or AIME.

Lee also earned top praise at Alabama State Science and Engineering Fair in the Biochemistry category. She founded “Biolympiad” at James Clemens as a service initiative in writing and filming supplemental science videos.

Limaye from Bob Jones proved her technical skills in high marks with Exploravision, a scientific contest offered by Toshiba Corporation and National Science Teachers Association. Limaye’s skills shown as a star in the 2021 All-Girls State Chess Championship. She served as an instructor for Bob Jones Science Challenge, a district-wide technical competition.

In addition, Limaye often earns awards in mathematics, as in the MATHCOUNTS and in other pursuits related to STEM.

For more information, visit cee.org.