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On Wednesday, February 7th, ɫ�����Ƶ welcomed some of the state’s top high school students for the 26th Annual Arizona Regional Brain Bee, an educational competition similar to a spelling bee that focuses on neuroscience. 

This year’s Arizona Regional Brain Bee featured 47 students from 15 Valley high schools testing their knowledge of the human brain, how it governs human behavior, and the science that helps medical professionals understand brain function. The event final lasted for 18 rounds.

The top three Brain Bee finishers, in order, were Rishi Suresh (Senior, Mountain Ridge High School, Glendale); last year’s third-place finisher Pranati Chintada (Junior, BASIS Chandler); and Humaid Jaffey (Sophomore, BASIS Scottsdale). Rishi is now eligible to compete at the 2024 U.S. National Brain Bee at the University of Central Florida this spring, with Midwestern offsetting the travel, hotel, and food costs up to $2,000. BASIS Scottsdale was recognized as the overall highest-scoring team for the event.
 

Douglas Jones, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Pharmacology, at the ɫ�����Ƶ College of Graduate Studies served as the Faculty Academic Director for the event. ɫ�����Ƶ student volunteers served as judges, question readers, timers, and scorekeepers at all stages of the event.

“Knowing that everyone was just as nervous as me helped calm me down, and in reality, it truly didn’t matter how I did because it was all for fun," said Ella Bechtol, a junior from Mountain Ridge High School who was a top 10 finisher in the event. "Overall, it was a wonderful experience. Everyone was incredibly nice and the event was super fun."

Questions ran the gamut from identifying physical features of the brain itself to naming brain disorders and diseases to surgical and medical practices that modify neural behaviors.

Participating high school students especially enjoyed the experience. Srikanya Garuda, a junior at BASIS Chandler, said, “The event was well organized, and it ran really smoothly. I had so much fun, and I am really excited to compete again next year.” Ella Bechtol, a junior at Mountain Ridge High School, added, “Knowing that everyone was just as nervous as me helped calm me down, and in reality, it truly didn’t matter how I did because it was all for fun. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. Everyone was incredibly nice, and the event was super fun. Thank you for being willing to hold this event.”

Kimberly Beaudion, M.S.Ed., Special Events Planner for Communications in Glendale, organized the event. She shared, “The AZ Regional Brain Bee event is a very unique experience for high school students,” she shared. “We love hosting the parents and teachers who come to support their students. Year after year, I am always impressed by how much some of the students know about neuroscience and the brain.”

The Arizona Regional Brain Bee is funded as a result of generous financial support from BHHS Legacy Foundation, an Arizona charitable organization whose philanthropic mission is to enhance the quality of life and health of those it serves.