Brothers Earn Prestigious Science Accolades

Brothers Harmon Hong ’29 and Sean Hong ’27 recently showcased their scientific acumen at the UT Arlington-Fort Worth Regional Science & Engineering Fair at UTA’s College Park Center. Sean and Harmon both received distinctions for their innovative projects. Sean will compete in the 2024 Texas Science & Engineering Fair in College Station on March 22-23. 

Sponsored by Assistant Head of Middle School Hester Burdman, Harmon completed in the Computer Science Category, Junior Division (Middle School). He earned two special awards: first place (from the Office of Naval Research - U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps) and fourth place Honorable Mention (from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company) for his work titled “A Natural Language Processing (NLP) Model to Classify and Respond to Social Media Outcry in Natural Disasters,” aimed at creating disaster relief AI. 

“Harmon spent a lot of time crafting his research using AI models,” Burdman said. “He found the science fair to be insightful in that he learned how to implement coding strategies to apply to real-world applications. I look forward to watching him participate again and can’t wait to see what topic he chooses.” 

Under the mentorship of Shaheen Matuni, Sean competed in the Computer Science Category, Senior Division. He earned second place for his work titled “A High Accurate Custom Emotion Recognition AI Model With Objective Response to Real World User Input Images,” which focuses on using an AI model to read facial expressions. In October 2023, Sean earned an Honorable Mention at the Texas Junior Academy of Science State Competition (Engineering Category) for his research paper and presentation titled “Design and Build of an Innovative Desktop Computer Using an Apple Power Macintosh G3 Housing with Aesthetic Appeal and Current Gaming Capabilities.” 

Intellectual curiosity and a no-reservations attitude about trying something new regardless of the outcome are characteristics Sean embraces. “Sean has learned that failure is part of the process of learning and growing. He is always working on some side project or tinkering with his ideas,” Matuni said. “I would like to recognize Sean’s parents. They are his biggest advocates and mentors when it comes to conducting official research and supporting his desire to be an intellectual contributor at such a young age. Studying AI and how to leverage the technology to produce accurate results is a skill that all generations should have some training in. He is actually trailblazing and inspiring.”

The UT Arlington-Fort Worth Regional Science & Engineering Fair is Texas’s longest-running regional science and engineering fair. Drawing participants from Cooke, Denton, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant, and Wise Counties, this fair is a hub for students to delve into the realms of science, mathematics and engineering. Celebrating its 73rd year, the fair provides a platform for budding scientists to showcase their talents through captivating exhibits, igniting a passion for science and fostering academic curiosity.