Jessie Li, a senior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, was a regional finalist in this year’s Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, the nation’s most challenging research-based contest. She received a $1,000 scholarship after mid-November judging at Georgia Tech, the Region 6 host.
The Siemens Competition, a signature program of the Siemens Foundation, is administered by the College Board. Of the nearly 1,900 students who submitted projects, only five individuals and five teams advanced to each of the six regional competitions. Jessie was the only finalist from Kentucky. The regional winners move on to Washington, D.C., to compete for $500,000 in scholarships, including two top prizes of $100,000.
The Siemens Foundation provides more than $7 million annually in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Other main programs include the Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement and The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, which encourages green environmental solutions. Dunbar’s Jessie Li, who is in the school’s MSTC program, earned an AP award last year as a junior.