Greybull students among national STEM finalists

Two Greybull High School seniors were named among the top three finalists in the state for the 2025 National STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Festival, the Greybull Research Program announced.

Teagan Thomas placed second in the state and will present her work on inhibiting fruit fly predation at the STEM Challenge in Washington, D.C., from March 19-22. Her work utilizes high-frequency soundwaves to interrupt fruit fly mating and development cycles.

Grainger Russell, who placed third in the state-level competition, evaluated the risk of Kratom exposure on the in-vitro development of brain cells in mice.

The National STEM Festival is hosted by EXPLR, an educational media platform. EXPLR invited students from grades seven through 12 from across the United States and its territories to submit innovations, inventions and research in six categories: Aerospace Innovation, Environmental Stewardship, Future Food, Health and Medicine, Powering the Planet and Tech for Good. In all, 106 students from around the country were recognized for their efforts and invited to Washington to present their work to government and industry leaders.

Greybull High’s Research Program also announced that junior Caden Thacker had been awarded a Wyoming Energy Authority Grant for $500 and an additional grant for equipment from Hach Chemical to continue research on the impact of coal fly ash in freshwater ecosystems.

The program’s five research students will next compete at the Northern Wyoming Regional Science Fair in Greybull on Jan. 23. 

Winners will advance state competition and one project will earn the opportunity to compete at the 2025 Regeneron International Science and Energy Fair, scheduled to be held May 10-16 in Columbus, Ohio.