2 Norcross seniors on way to D.C.

Seniors at Norcross and Greenbrier high schools are among the 300 U.S. scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and pre-college science and math competition. Previous sponsors of the Science Talent Search were Westinghouse and Intel. Jennifer Wang, of Norcross, won for her project, titled “Lose the Battle but Win the War: Generous Zero-Determinant Strategies in the Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma.” Alexander Kirov ,of Greenbrier, won for his project, “Exosomes in Amyloid Aggregates Promote Neuronal Damage: A Mechanism of Alzheimer’s Pathology.” Each scholar, selected from 1,749 entrants, receives a $2,000 award with an additional $2,000 going to his or her school. The 40 finalists will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., March 9–15, to undergo judging, interact with leading scientists, display their research for the public and meet national leaders while competing for $1.8 million in awards, including a $250,000 top award, provided by Regeneron.

Gwinnett bus driver wins 2 gold medals in track

A Gwinnett County school bus driver won two gold medals at the World Masters Track and Field Championship in Perth, Australia. Emma McGowan, who drives a special education bus and is the mother of twins, won gold in the 100 meters and 200 meters. She says training and her job go hand in hand. “I love driving the bus because after I drop off the kids in the morning, I can train for several hours before I have to begin my afternoon route. But the best part of my job is that I get to take my daughter to school,” McGowan said. “My daughter is autistic, and I love being able to take her to school and pick her up. That way I know she and the other students are in great hands.” Athletes who compete in World Masters Athletic events must be at least 35 years old. McGowan,48, says she loves to compete. In 2015 she won gold in the World Masters Athletics Championship in her native France and earned silver in the 200 meters and 400 meters.

Brookwood teacher wins national award

Brookwood High School teacher Cindy Quinlan was awarded the 39th annual Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education by the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. She will receive $7,500. Quinlan was one of 12 U.S. educators winning the award, presented at the National Council for the Social Studies Conference in Washington, D.C. Quinlan earned it for a program she leads, The Brookwood Entrepreneurship Program, which teaches skills that improve students’ employability in an uncertain economy.