Pine Crest Upper School student Bailey Frank ’30 has been named a Top 30 finalist in the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, a national STEM research competition for middle school students.
Bailey was selected from 1,997 applicants representing 47 states, Washington, D.C. and five U.S. territories. The competition, a program of Society for Science, recognizes young scientists and engineers for their original research, scientific inquiry and innovation.
Earlier this month, Bailey was one of five Pine Crest students named among the competition’s Top 300 Junior Innovators, alongside David Diaz-Padua ’30, Max Hall ’30, Rhea Mahesh ’30 and Maximilian Wakefield ’30. All five are now Upper School students and earned nominations for research they completed last year as members of Pine Crest’s Middle School Science Research Program. Their nominations followed their placement among the top 10% of participants at local science fairs.
As a Top 30 finalist, Bailey will travel to Washington, D.C., from October 23 to 28 to participate in the national competition. Finalists will take part in challenges designed to evaluate their STEM knowledge, critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration skills.
Congratulations and good luck, Bailey!
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