St. Joseph CHS student excels at international science fair

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OGDEN — Mercedes Randhahn, a junior at Saint Joseph Catholic High School, took second place in the Translational Medical Science category at the International Science and Engineering Fair, held May 13 in Atlanta, Ga.

Randhahn attended the international science fair after taking home the first place in the Medicine, Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering category at the University of Utah Science and Engineering Fair earlier this year.

 In Georgia, Randhahn was one 1,750 young scientists representing 49 states and 63 countries, regions, and territories across the world. Her project explored accessible treatments for triple negative breast cancer by developing  a cost-effective extract from the Centella asiatica plant, native to Central Asia.

“I chose to pursue a project regarding accessible treatments for triple-negative breast cancer in developing regions because I have come to learn that there is massive inconsistency with quality of care across nations, and I wanted to address practical solutions that could be implemented instead,” Randhahn said.

Her project best fit into the Translational Medical Science category.

“The idea is that for somebody who has been diagnosed with breast cancer within central Asia and who may not have access to traditional medical care – they may instead self-medicate with this extract as an alternative treatment,” said Randhahn, adding that she hadn’t anticipated receiving any award at the international science fair,  “so I was very pleasantly surprised” when the awards were announced.

In addition to the second-place award, she won $2,000.

Having students excel and achieve is part of the St. Joseph Catholic High School philosophy.

“We are always striving to showcase our students in and out of the classroom,” said Principal Clay Jones. “Mercedes has achieved at the highest levels in and out and we have tried to recognize those achievements any time we can.”

The high school “prides itself on being able to work with students like Mercedes,” Jones added. “Her determination to make a difference is exactly what we want to highlight about our school. … St. Joseph students have a multitude of talents and as a school we want to foster those talents. Specifically, Mercedes needs the support from teachers, professors, family and the entire community to continue her journey of doing amazing things.”

Jones said Randhahn can count on the school’s support in her future endeavors.

“I cannot express how proud I am of Mercedes and her accomplishments to this point. She is an amazing young woman and her potential is through the roof. ... I would like to think that St. Joseph has a small role in helping her to continue being successful in the future. Again, as a Catholic school it is our mission to develop all aspects of the students that enter our doors. The mission to develop the whole person is a priority and always will be,” Jones said.

Randhahn said she hopes that one day her research will be published.

“I think that science is an incredible avenue to be able to impact the entire world. Evidence-based direct data has the potential to incite global change, so long as people choose to listen to it,” she said.