09/03/2026
Silver Sands Middle School has a national STEM star to celebrate!
Congratulations to Jayu Hilley, 7th grade student at Silver Sands Middle School, for being selected as a 2026 Top 300 Junior Innovator in the nation through the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.
Jayu earned this outstanding recognition for her project, “Beyond Faraday: Analyzing Mass Loss and Gain in Copper Electroplating - A Comparison of Real-World Data and Theoretical Predictions.” She was selected from a pool of 1,997 entrants across the United States, placing her among the Top 300 middle school innovators in the country.
We are incredibly proud of Jayu’s hard work, creativity, and scientific talent. Her achievement also marks a historic moment, as she is one of two 7th grade students from the Volusia Regional STEM Research Fair selected this year, the first time that has happened in one year.
Way to go, Jayu! Silver Sands is cheering you on!