The Glendale Community College second annual Gregor Mendel contest winners were announced April 8th.

The contest showcased creative student projects inspired by the father of modern genetics.

In collaboration with the GCC Science Lecture Series, the Mendel contest was organized by the newly established US Mendel School on campus.

Participants and faculty gathered in Buena Vista 223 surrounded by taxidermied animals, lab equipment, and artwork.

Everybody sat on lab stools and watched a presentation highlighting the 17 contestants’ projects.

“This is the second year of this contest, and the quality of the submissions definitely has evolved,” Eva Janečková, biology division professor, said. This year’s imaginative projects ranged from drawings, poems, sun prints, and even a short film.  

The first place prize was awarded to Sophía Hovhannisyan for her cyanotype print notebook featuring photographs of her family members.

“I wanted my project to look like a student’s notebook,” Hovhannisyan said.

Mane Asilbekyan won second place for her artwork titled “Hands of Inheritance.”

Asilbekyan’s artwork featured Mendel’s discovery of inheritable traits through pea plants.

Third place was shared by Sasha Villarreal, Arlen Myers, Silvi Harutyunyan, and Katherine Garcia with cash prizes sponsored by GCC alum William Gohlke.

The Science Lecture series was represented by GCC academic counselor Nare Garibyan.

In 1866, Mendel published his seminal paper “Experiments on Plant Hybrids” In his influential work, he established foundational principles that form the basis of modern genetics and apply broadly across living organisms.

The year before its publication, Mendel delivered two lectures. In recognition of this achievement, the Mendelianum of the Moravian Museum, together with international scientists, has designated March 8th, the date of his second and final lecture, as International Mendel Day.

The contest is open to all students, staff, faculty, and community members at GCC.