Briana Stephens, a Belleview High School senior has been named a Grand Award Ying Scholar at the 71st Florida State Science and Engineering Fair, becoming the first student in Marion County Public Schools history to receive the prestigious distinction. Only eight students statewide were selected for the honor.
Stephens earned the recognition for her groundbreaking project, “Revolutionizing Tympanoplasty: A Personalized Surgical Process.” Her research addresses tympanic membrane perforations, a condition impacting more than 320 million people worldwide and a leading cause of preventable hearing loss.
Her innovative approach combines high-resolution 3D scanning and modeling, bio-printed tympanic grafts, and an automated robotic surgical process powered by reinforcement learning. The personalized procedure aims to improve surgical outcomes and reduce the high failure rates often associated with traditional tympanoplasty techniques.
As a Grand Award Ying Scholar, Stephens received a $1,000 cash prize and a traveling trophy. She will also represent Florida at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where she will compete against top young scientists from around the globe with all expenses covered.
In support of her achievement, the Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center matched the $1,000 award, contributing additional funding to Belleview High School’s science program.
“This is a historic moment for Marion County Public Schools and Big Springs STEM,” said Erin Benavides, resource teacher and Big Springs Fair director. “Briana’s research is not only scientifically impressive, it has the potential to change lives. We could not be prouder of her achievement and the future she represents.”
The success extends beyond Stephens’ individual accomplishment. Students in the Big Springs STEM program collectively earned 25 awards and more than $100,000 in cash prizes and scholarships, underscoring the strength and impact of the district’s science education programs.
