(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – May 12, 2025) — El Paso ISD students showcased their talent and academic excellence at the 2025 Texas Science and Engineering Fair (TXSEF), earning top awards and making their district proud in a prestigious statewide competition.
Representing a wide range of scientific disciplines, including engineering, environmental science, and mathematics, students from El Paso ISD competed in the junior division and walked away with multiple first- and second-place finishes.
Among the standout achievers:
• Julia Terrazas earned first place in Environmental Engineering
• Siddharth Vidyarthi captured first place in Mathematics
• Matthew Soyka secured second place in Engineering Technology: Statics and Dynamics
• Shaheli De Silva won second place in Environmental Engineering
• Jason Surabhi achieved second place in Mathematics
These students competed against top young scientists from across Texas, demonstrating creativity, innovation, and rigorous problem-solving through their projects. Their achievements underscore El Paso ISD’s commitment to fostering excellence in STEM and STEAM education and preparing students to succeed in a global, technology-driven world.
“El Paso ISD is proud to support and celebrate these brilliant students and the educators who help guide their journeys,” said Phillip Hash, Director Academic Operations. “Competitions like the Texas Science and Engineering Fair empower our students to push boundaries, explore real-world challenges, and make meaningful contributions to their fields of interest.”
The district congratulates all participants and looks forward to seeing where their curiosity and passion will take them next.
Full list:
Name | Category | Place |
---|---|---|
Matthew Soyka | Engineering Technology: Statics and Dynamics | 2 |
Julia Terrazas | Environmental Engineering | 1 |
Shaheli De Silva | Environmental Engineering | 2 |
Siddharth Vidyarthi | Mathematics | 1 |
Jason Surabhi | Mathematics | 2 |
Mateo Manke | Robotics and Intelligent Machines | 1 |
Sreenesh Sreeprasad | Systems Software | 1 |
Lucas Medina | Animal Sciences | 1 |
Alejandro Ortiz Tapia | Behavioral and Social Sciences | 2 |
Kate Esplin | Biomedical and Health Sciences | 1 |
Victoria Lopez | Plant Sciences | 1 |
Hanalei Esparza | Biochemistry | 1 |
Ethan Pan | Biochemistry | 2 |
Ian Davila | Chemistry | 1 |
Max Kamdem | Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design | 2 |
Francis Boyle | Materials Science | 2 |
Karla Garcia | Animal Sciences | 1 |
Logan Amezcua | Animal Sciences | 2 |
Shalom Wraith, Azalea Hernandez | Behavioral and Social Sciences | 1 |
Lea Zavala | Behavioral and Social Sciences | 2 |
Marley Marquez | Computational Biology and Bioinformatics | 2 |
David Flores, Lauren Gallegos | Microbiology | 1 |
Trager Simpson | Chemistry | 2 |