Cami Hiek, Emma Jing (student coach), Dishaa Bhat, Kinnari Chaubal, Esha Madamalla, Pari Rana, Ayana Ahuja, Eesha Somasundar, Amal Wooldridge, Emma Pan, Emma Bennett and Ava Ghods. (Not pictured: Sarang Arun and Spencer Rothka) Photo contributed
The Nysmith School Debate team recorded yet another victory in Maret Invitational Public Forum Tournament for both middle and high schools.
Debating the topic of “The U.S. Federal Government should increase its quota of H-1B visas,” the individual members/teams to achieve top results were:
Varsity: First place -- Sarang Arun, eighth grader from Fairfax & Cami Hiek (Great Falls/seventh); Fourth place -- Emma Bennett (Oakton/seventh) & Ava Ghods (Sterling/seventh).
Novice: First place -- Amal Wooldridge (Ashburn/sixth) & Emma Pan (Fairfax/sixth); Second place -- Dishaa Bhat (Sterling/sixth) & Kinnari Chaubal (Oak Hill/sixth); Third place - Esha Madamalla/Maverick (Chantilly/fourth)
Junior varsity: Second place -- Eesha Somasunder (South Riding/sixth) & Ayana Ahuja (Chantilly/seventh).
Sixth grader Ishnoor Bakshi, from Herndon, earned the only Honorable Mention award at the Thomas Jefferson High School Invitational Science Fair. Her project, “Spare the Air—The Effect of Chemicals on Air Quality”—was well received by judges and other students alike.