If you were looking for the human embodiment of the phrase “going from strength to strength,” you’d find no better examples than Fredericton High School students Jack D’Entremont and Onkit Saha, two friends with a knack for science.
D’Entremont and Saha won the Anglophone School District West STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Expo in March, and they’ve just taken several honours at the Canada-wide Science Fair in Ottawa, from May 26-31. Each won $15,500 in scholarships in the process.
Their project, called Stratosync, details the reuse of high-altitude weather balloons—something not currently being done—to reduce research costs and the environmental damage caused by old balloons.
Watch them describe their project at this year’s STEAM Expo (1:41):
“I plan on continuing with this project, as it has a lot of potential and there was interest in it from various organizations to progress with this concept,” said Saha, who will be in Grade 11 in the 2024-2025 school year.
Both Saha and D’Entremont, who will be in Grade 12 in the 2024-2025 school year, have a keen interest in working in the aerospace industry after university.
Said D’Entremont, “I plan on getting a mechanical engineering degree and pursuing a career in the aerospace sector.”
Saha wants to become a military pilot before moving into an aerospace engineering career, “so these experiences will come in very handy.”
What they won:
| Award Name | Sponsor | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Excellence Award – Silver | Youth Science Canada | Medal and Certificate |
| Challenge Award – Aerospace | Youth Science Canada | Certificate |
| Carleton University Entrance Scholarship | Carleton University – Faculty of Engineering and Design, Faculty of Science | Senior Silver Medalist – $2500 Entrance Scholarship |
| Dalhousie University Faculty of Science Entrance Scholarship | Dalhousie University, Faculty of Science | Senior Silver Medalist – $2500 Entrance Scholarship |
| Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship | Mount Allison University | Silver Medalist – $4,000 Entrance Scholarship |
| University of New Brunswick Canada-wide Science Fair Scholarship | University of New Brunswick | Senior Silver Medalist – $2500 Entrance Scholarship |
| University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship | University of Ottawa | Senior Silver Medalist – $2000 Entrance Scholarship |
| Western University Entrance Scholarship | Western University | Silver Medalist – $2000 Entrance Scholarship |