Davis-Bahcall Scholars chosen

This year, eight students from across the state were accepted into the prestigious Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Sanford Lab). The Scholars Program gives students unique opportunities to work with scientists and on research experiments at Sanford Lab, Fermi and Argonne National laboratories in Illinois, and Gran Sasso and Frascati National laboratories in Italy. 

?The Davis-Bahcall program introduces students to a variety of STEM disciplines and can be helpful to them in deciding on their major in college,? said Brianna Mount, research assistant professor of physics at Black Hills State University. ?It comes at a point in their education where they are choosing their future career path. It?s a critical time because they get exposed to many different disciplines and learn early in their education what professionals do every day, whether in science, engineering or another STEM field.? 

This year, the program is sponsored by First Premier Bank, the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium (SDSGC), BHSU and Sanford Lab. The SDSCG has sponsored the Davis-Bahcall program for several years as part of its mission to instill the spirit of exploration and discovery in students, educators and in the general public. 

The Scholars Program, open to high school seniors and college freshmen, is named in honor of Dr. Ray Davis Jr. and Dr. John Bahcall. Davis, who built his experiment at the 4850 Level of the Homestake Mine, received the Nobel Prize in 2002 for his groundbreaking solar neutrino research.

The students begin the program at Sanford Lab, where they work with scientists, engineers, geologists and others, then travel to the University of Wisconsin, Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab in Illinois. The final week is spent in Italy, where they will visit Gran Sasso National Laboratory.

?We?re excited to have the opportunity to host the eight Scholars and appreciate the generous contribution of First Premier to this flagship E&O program,? said Mike Headley, executive director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority.

This year?s scholars are:

  • James Mayclin, Plankinton, S.D., senior, Plankinton High School. 
  • Trey Waldrop, St. Lawrence, S.D., senior, Miller High School. 
  • Sowmya Yamini Ragothaman, Vermillion, S.D., senior, Vermillion High School. 
  • Hadassah Meyer, Madison, S.D., senior, Madison High School. 
  • Theodore Savinov, Sioux Falls, S.D., senior, Lincoln High School.  
  • Gina Selig, Rapid City, S.D., senior, Rapid City Stevens High School.
  • Alexandra Wiley, Mesa Ariz., freshman, Black Hills State University.
  • Lucas Sternbagen, Groton S.D., graduated from  Groton High School; he is a freshman at the University of South Dakota.

by Constance Walter