Congratulations to our 15 students from Dirksen, Gompers, and Hufford Junior High Schools who qualified to attend the Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Fair. The students will present at the event at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on April 23-24, 2026.
Qualifying students include: Maria Aguillon Izaguirre, Gompers Junior High; Daisy Alvarez, Hufford Junior High; Gabriela Borja Pesantez, Gompers Junior High; Paris Constantino, Hufford Junior High; Laila Escalante, Dirksen Junior High; Aiden Gallagher, Dirksen Junior High; Evelyn Guzman, Dirksen Junior High; Melany Guzman, Dirksen Junior High; Kenyah Handy, Dirksen Junior High; Daisy Leon, Dirksen Junior High; Gabriel Medrano, Dirksen Junior High; Amaya Perez, Dirksen Junior High; Luciana Restrepo Alvarez, Gompers Junior High; Deicy Reyes, Gompers Junior High; and Emmanuel Santiago Cruz, Dirksen Junior High.
“We wish our students the best of luck at the State Science Fair – we are so proud of them!” said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse.
The students were sponsored by teachers Racheal Del Boccio, Dirksen Junior High; Michelle Grygiel, Gompers Junior High; Roselle Haddick, Hufford Junior High; Melanie Miller-Moralez, Gompers Junior High; and Amelia Rafferty, Dirksen Junior High.