NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — Four North Bergen High School students took top honors at the annual Jersey City Medical Center/RWJBarnabas Health STEM Showcase Awards Ceremony, held March 23 at Liberty Science Center, with one student making district history by advancing to an internationally recognized competition.
Competing against more than 400 participants from across the region, the North Bergen students — enrolled in the school’s Independent Scientific Research Honors course — earned medals and special awards for original research addressing real-world challenges in fields ranging from radiation biology to accessibility technology.
Senior Ana Ordonez received the event’s highest distinction, a Platinum Award, along with the Regeneron Biomedical Science Award. She was also named a finalist for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2026, where she will represent North Bergen High School and Hudson County in Phoenix, Arizona, from May 9 to May 15. It marks the first time a student from North Bergen High School has advanced to the globally recognized competition.
Ordonez’s project introduced a standardized tactile prescription medication labeling system featuring universal disease icons and raised dosage indicators. Designed to support visually impaired and low-vision individuals, her research demonstrated that the system significantly reduces medication errors and improves patient compliance compared to traditional text-based labels.
Cristian Leon Lorenzo earned a Bronze Medal and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2026 Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award for his research on how melanized fungi biologically respond to radiation. His study found that Stachybotrys chartarum alters its growth and significantly increases pigmentation when exposed to UV light, laying groundwork for future scientific exploration in the field.
Eduard Culajay Xajil and Melanie Chauca earned Silver Medals for developing a modular siren detection prototype designed to assist deaf and hard-of-hearing drivers. Their C++-based system uses visual and haptic feedback to alert users to approaching emergency vehicles, achieving a 68.48% success rate and an average latency of 45.18 milliseconds — meeting standard emergency reaction time thresholds.
“The accomplishments of these students reflect not only their exceptional intellect and dedication, but also the strength of North Bergen’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation,” said Superintendent Dr. George Solter. “We are incredibly proud of their achievements, and especially of Ana for making history as the first student from our district to advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.”
The students are enrolled in North Bergen High School’s Independent Scientific Research Honors course, taught by Dr. Krista Welz. The rigorous program challenges students to conduct original, graduate-level research — from initial literature review and proposal development to data analysis, scholarly writing, and formal presentation. Participation in the course is required to compete in the STEM Showcase.
“The level of research produced by our students is truly remarkable and speaks to their curiosity, perseverance, and passion for discovery,” said Dr. Jared Keshishian, Director of STEM and STEAM at North Bergen High School. “These projects are not only academically impressive, but they also address real-world challenges with meaningful, innovative solutions. We look forward to seeing Ana represent our community on the international stage.”
The Hudson County STEM Showcase, held in collaboration with Liberty Science Center, brings together students, educators, and industry leaders to celebrate excellence and innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
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