Two St. Francis of Assisi Students Named to Nation’s Top 300 Junior Innovators in 2026 STEM Competition  

[Louisville, KY] — September 2026 — Huge congratulations to Miles Williams (SFA Class of ‘26) and Lincoln Knockwafel (7th grade) for being named among the Top 300 Junior Innovators in the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC)! Hosted by Society for Science, this program is the nation’s premier middle school STEM research competition.  

Selected from nearly 2,000 applicants across 47 states and territories, these two brilliant young researchers represent 40% of all honorees from the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky (out of only 5 statewide):  

🔬 Miles Williams (SFA Class of 2026) – Exploring the Effects of Phototherapy on Stem Cells and Signaling 

🔬 Lincoln Knockwafel, 7th grade at SFA – Rusting Alaska: Salt’s Impact on Iron Oxidation and Precipitation 

To qualify for the Thermo Fisher JIC, students must rank in the top 10% of their local Society-affiliated science and engineering fair. Each Top 300 Junior Innovator receives a cash prize and special partner gifts. The nation’s Top 30 finalists will be selected on September 16 to compete in Washington, D.C.  

We are immensely proud of our students’ curiosity, creativity, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery! 🧬✨

👉 Read the full list of honorees: https://www.societyforscience.org/jic/2026-top-300-junior-innovators-by-fair-id/