Discovery Education and 3M have named 15 year-old Hannah Herbst from Boca Raton, Fla. the winner of the 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Herbst created an energy probe prototype that seeks to offer a stable power source to developing countries by using untapped energy from ocean currents. 

Herbst, a ninth grader from Florida Atlantic University High School, competed alongside nine other middle school finalists yesterday during a live competition at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn. She was awarded the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” as well as a $25,000 cash prize.

During the past three months, Herbst and the other nine finalists had the exclusive opportunity to work directly with a 3M scientist to develop their personal inventions as part of a unique summer mentorship program. Each of the students collaborated with some of 3M’s top scientists, who provided guidance as they worked through the scientific method to advance their ideas from a theoretical concept into an actual prototype. 

For more information on the 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and to learn more about this year’s finalists, go to www.YoungScientistChallenge.com.