ASMS Student is First Local Mobilian to win Top Prize at State Science Fair

Mobile, Ala. – Madeline Borchert is the first local Mobilian to win the top prize at the state of Alabama's science fair. Madeline is 17 years old and a junior at the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS), a public residential boarding school located in Mobile. In February, Madeline won the top prize at the Mobile Regional Science Fair and progressed to compete in the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF) hosted at Auburn University.

At ASEF, Madeline's project, “Designing RNAi pesticides to specifically target invasive species,” took home the highest honor -- Best in Fair. This is the first time in competition history that a student from Mobile County has received the premier honor for their work. Madeline is part of the ASMS Research Fellows Program and spent this past school year working on her research project under the guidance of Dr. Jeffrey DeMeis at the University of South Alabama and ASMS Research Coordinator, Asia Frey, who states:

"Students who participate in our Research Fellows program create projects that do very well in competitions like the Science Fair because we are able to leverage the expertise of our ASMS faculty and a network of colleagues at local universities to mentor their projects and also help prepare them for the tough Q and A sessions they have to undergo from judges. I am thrilled that Madeline has gotten so much recognition for her amazing project, and I have high expectations for our students as they continue to compete."

In May, Madeline will progress to the next level, competing in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio against thousands. ISEF is the world’s largest international STEM research competition for high school students. Only four students from the state of Alabama were selected to compete at the international level in 2025, and Daniel Pacheco, who is an ASMS student from Lee County, was also awarded a bid from ASEF to the prestigious ISEF event. He will be presenting his work “Quantum Theory Prediction of Anionic Metal Oxide Catalyst Efficiency for Methane-to-Methanol Conversion.” A third ASMS student from Mobile County, YangHong Chi, won the ASEF Excellence in Mathematics and Statistics Award for his project entitled “Domination in Maximal Outerplanar Graphs.” All these students won cash prizes for their efforts.

"The ASMS Research Fellows Program is possible because our teachers have Ph.Ds. in their fields of expertise and also college-level research experience. It is exciting to see our students' research projects being recognized, and we are especially proud of Maddie and Daniel for representing our school and Mobile County at the highest level," says Dr. John Hoyle, president of ASMS.

The ASMS Research Fellows Program is a one-of-a-kind program in the state of Alabama. Students like Madeline, Daniel, and YangHong have the opportunity to conduct college-level research and submit their work for competition. In addition to benefits gained while in high school, the school reports that students who participate in the program are increasingly set apart in the college admissions process.

On Friday, May 2, ASMS will host their annual Spring Research Forum on campus where students in the ASMS Research Fellows Program will present their research projects from this past school year. Local STEM industries, businesses, and leaders are invited to attend. Please contact ASMS Research Coordinator, Asia Frey, (afrey@asms.net), for more information.

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The Alabama School of Mathematics and Science is the state's only fully public and residential high school for sophomores, juniors, and seniors seeking advanced studies in math, science, computer science, and the humanities. ASMS is a premier institution offering world-class learning, research, and leadership opportunities to Alabama students, empowering them to improve their community, state, and nation. Tuition, room, and board are free. Learn more at asms.net.