Janet Song, Deepthi Shashidhar, and Anna Jon Sabo were selected as the co-winners of the 2009 Annalee Henderson Award for Outstanding Senior Achievement in Mathematics Award.

Janet Song is a graduate of Methacton High School in Norristown, PA. She is an AP Scholar with Honor. She is a Presidential Scholar Candidate and a National Merit Scholar.
Janet is a 2007 recipient of the Davidson Fellowship Scholarship for which she received a $25,000 scholarship and was chosen as a finalist in the Siemens Westinghouse Competition. She was accepted to the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for Science in 2008. Instead, she chose to participate in the Research Science Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she was selected as a Top 5 Presenter. Only 75 students worldwide were invited to attend the program.
Janet has already had her research published and had her work patented. She tells us, “I have worked extensively on research on the early detection of cancer, the herpes simplex virus, and brain volumetrics at Drexel University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.”
Janet routinely wins science fair competitions and has competed at the national and international levels.
Janet’s talents extend beyond Math and Science. In 2004, she won the Gold Medal at the World Piano Competition. She has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In June 2007 she did perform there as the Winner of the American Fine Arts Festival. Every Tuesday for the past five years Janet has entertained seniors at a nursing home by playing piano. She has also used her talent with the piano to help several local fundraisers.
Placing First in Poetry in the Methacton Writing Contest in 2006 and receiving First Place honors for fiction writing in 2007 were also achievements for Janet.
Other activities include: 1st violin and concertmaster in orchestra, Peer Connections and Class Congress for four years, Mock Trial Club, Science Fair Club (President in 2008-2009), Tri-M Music Honor Society (President in 2008-2009), Student Ambassadors, and National Honor Society.

Deepthi Shashidhar is a graduate of Great Valley High School in Malvern,PA. While at Great Valley, Deepthi completed every math course available in the curriculum with high honors. She is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and an AP Scholar with Dictinction. She participated in the American Mathematics Contest each year.
In the Summer of 2008, Deepthi attended the Governor’s School for Science. During this experience she completed a research project on bacteriophage and learned laboratory techniques.
 Each year since 9th Grade, Deepthi entered the Science Fair and won First Place at the Chester County level and 1st or 2nd place at the Delaware Valley level. Her entry this year was a computer science project dealing with robotics for home use. Prizes for the Science Fairs have included significant monetary scholarships as well as invitations to participate in programs at universities. Deepthi has been invited to attend the Nano/Bio Day at the University of Pennsylvania several times.
Music is a part of Depthi’s busy life. She plays piano and violin and performs Indian Carnatic Classical singing. She performed four concerts for charity in India, one of which was televised.
Among Deepthi’s other accomplishments are:  All-
Stars Tutoring for Math team, Mock Trial Club Prosecution Lawyer, Captain of the Volleyball Team, Student Council, President of the Science Olympiad team, co-captain of the Varsity Tennis team, President of the model UN program, orchestra, and student representative to the School Board.

Anna Jon Sabo is a graduate of Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, PA. She will attend the University of Pennsylvania as a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Class of 2013. Anna aspires to teach mathematics at the university level and to inspire a love for the subject in her students. She professes, “Even as a young child I was infatuated with patterns and sequences, whether it was in numbers, music, games, or the discovery of perfect ratios in music and art.” Her abilities led to her being promoted two grade levels and starting high school classes for credit at age 11.
Anna attended the Governor’s School of Excellence for the Sciences during the Summer of 2008. Most of Anna’s summer vacations have been devoted to advancing her learning in Math and Science. She attended a one-week laboratory experience in 2007 through the American Society of Metals Eisenman Scholarship, took the course Advanced Cryptology in the Summer of 2007 through the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, and was a participant in Andrew’s Leap, a six week Mathematics/Computer Science/Robotics Program at Carnegie Mellon University Summer 2006. Anna actively participated in Math and Science activities at Shady Side Academy. She is the founder and president of the Robotics Club, competed with the Math Team since 2006, tutored other students for the past five years and was the Student Associate for the Math, Science, and Computer Science Departments.
Anna has a love of music and has shared her talents through many musical performances. She has sung the National Anthem at numerous opening ceremonies in the Pittsburgh area. She was a Jazz Band vocalist at Shady Side, performed with the Junior Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, is a church organist, and plays piano at an assisted living facility.

Nominations are being accepted NOW for the 2010 Annalee Henderson Award, due by February 19, 2010. Nominations will be sought for the other PCTM Awards to be given in 2010, with a later deadline to be announced:

• the New Teacher award (three years experience or less);
• Oustanding Contribution to Mathematics award;
• Outstanding Contribution to PCTM award;
• Hall of Fame award.

Once each year, PCTM pays tribute to excellent Mathematics teaching and learning by presenting its awards to Mathematics professionals and students. If you know someone who you believe qualifies for one of these awards, you may submit their information to the Awards committee.