Hiruni Wansapura, a 9th-grade student at Jasper High School in Plano ISD, was named one of the top 30 finalists in the 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC), a prestigious national STEM competition. This challenge, organized by Thermo Fisher Scientific in partnership with the Society for Science & the Public, recognizes middle school students who have demonstrated excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Wansapura earned this recognition for her project titled “Sycamore Seed Inspired Fan Blade Design for a Portable Air Purifier.” According to the official statement by Plano ISD, the innovative project, which reflects her interest in engineering…