Fourteen-year-old Heman Bekele, a ninth grader from Annandale, Virginia, has been crowned "America's Top Young Scientist" after inventing a medicated soap that has the potential to treat skin cancer.
Heman's achievement became public through the 3M and Discovery Education competition, recognized as one of the country's most prestigious middle school science competitions. His soap, designed to combat melanoma, was developed over four months—and it only costs about 50 cents to make.
The nationwide Top Young Scientist competition is an annual event that aims to inspire innovative ideas in students between fifth and eighth grade, offering them a platform to come up with innovative ideas that would be seen by top scientists and business leaders. Heman secured the grand prize, which includes a $25,000 cash award, at a ceremony at 3M's headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to coverage in USA Today, Herman said he intends to establish a nonprofit organization to distribute his skin cancer-treating soap to communities in need.
You can read the full coverage from USA Today below:
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.