Announcing the Recipients of the George Olah and Dedrick Kon ’96 Fellowships

The Upper School Science Department, including K-12 Chair Rachel Dunham ’01 and faculty Robin Barnes P ’27, is thrilled to announce the recipients of the George Olah and Dedrick Kon ’96 Fellowships. Through the George Olah Fellowship, Cavon H. ’27, Theo F. ’28, and Michael Z. ’26 are developing “Ember Alert,” a low-cost wildfire detection system designed to help communities identify and respond to fires before they spread. Through the Dedrick Kon ’96 Fellowship, Russell T. ’27 is conducting research to improve the diagnosis of peanut allergies.

“The Upper School Science Department continues to be impressed with the projects students bring to us each year, and we are grateful that these students see the real-world impact of doing this type of research,” said Robin, who serves as the Fellowship and Science Opportunity Steward. “We expect students applying for these fellowships to be independent learners as well as go-getters who take the time to secure mentorship beyond Poly faculty, especially if their work requires sophisticated equipment or safety supervision.”

Dr. Ron and Cindy Olah, parents of alumni Kaitlyn Olah '14 and Justin Olah ’19, established the George Olah Fellowship for Creativity in Science and Engineering endowment fund at Poly in 2019 in tribute to Ron’s late father, who was a Nobel Prize Laureate, chemist, and professor. By creating the Olah Fellowship, they sought to provide opportunities for talented Upper School students to undertake research, study, or inquiry projects beyond the usual high school science curriculum.

Inspired by the tragic Eaton Fire in January of last year, the group has designed Ember Alert, a community-centered early wildfire detection system that uses a network of interconnected hardware modules to detect fires before they spread out of control.  The ultra-low-cost $5 module is equipped with sensors that measure key environmental variables such as temperature, humidity, air quality, and gas density, which can detect abnormal patterns that indicate the potential for ignition or fire spread. When sensor data suggests the conditions are rising or a fire has likely started, Ember Alert can immediately notify local authorities, emergency services, and nearby residents. Their goal is to make fire prevention proactive rather than reactive.

The group is grateful not only for the funding provided by the Olah Fellowship but also for the rigorous testing process involved in applying for the grant. “The Olah Fellowship specifically looked at research that would verify quantitatively how good our system is. I think that was something that we as a team were really interested in, because it was an opportunity to actually measure how well Ember Alert works,” said Cavon.

For the Olah Fellowship, the trio developed a proof of concept and the first and second prototypes. First making connections in Entrepreneurship Club, the team has expanded to a working group of 10 students under Ember Alert Club to continue testing and improving the device. Ember Alert’s creation has been a collaborative process. 3D Printing Club supported the printing of the cases that house the sensors and circuitry. The group is also working with the Pasadena Fire Department to test during scheduled burns.

Ultimately, Ember Alert hopes to pilot the system in high-risk communities like Altadena. The information collected would also be shared with the Fire Department for further research.

“It's really nice to have support from faculty and others at Poly,” said Michael. “Especially as a senior, I know most of the teachers that we interacted with for the application process, so it was great to have their faith in us.”

The Dedrick Kon ’96 Fellowship was established to honor the life and spirit of its namesake and to support students pursuing innovative research or meaningful exploration in the life sciences. An anesthesiologist with a deep passion for science, Dedrick was remembered by his classmates as someone who fully embraced all that Poly had to offer. He was a scholar, athlete, and musician, as well as a kind and caring friend to all. The fellowship recognizes students who embody that same well-rounded spirit and commitment to intellectual curiosity.

This year’s recipient is Russell T. ’27, whose research seeks to determine whether surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements of antibody interactions with Ara h2, a major peanut allergen, can distinguish between stable and weak or nonspecific binding. His work has the potential to improve the diagnosis of peanut allergies and help doctors more accurately identify which patients are truly at risk.

Russell’s project is deeply personal. Having experienced severe allergies during his life, he understands the uncertainty and anxiety that can accompany a peanut allergy diagnosis.

“I endured two life-threatening allergic reactions that sent me to the ER before I turned seven,” Russell shared. “Being able to more effectively identify whether or not a person has a peanut allergy can significantly improve the quality of life for kids who don’t know if they are at risk.”

By improving diagnostic accuracy, Russell hopes his research will lead to more successful oral food challenges, reducing unnecessary dietary restrictions and minimizing both the emotional and physical stress associated with allergy testing. Sometimes, patients will undergo oral tests that put them at risk of allergic reactions due to a lack of clinical information. Russell’s research would give doctors greater insight into risk factors and whether patients can receive oral tests.

Robin shared that the fellowship application is a lengthy, competitive process followed by one or more meetings with members of the Science Department, during which additional questions and guidance are provided. Russell previously applied for the Olah Fellowship twice, as a sophomore and junior, reworking his project with faculty support each time. “His dedication and willingness to take advice and continue to work on this project led him to a project that we can support, earning him the Dedrick Kon '96 Fellowship this spring,” said Robin.

Russell embodies Dedrick’s well-rounded spirit with involvement in athletics, Ambassador Council, and student community engagement. His club, Safe Bite Union, distributes pantry staples free of the top nine allergens to those who are food-insecure. His passion for supporting those with life-threatening allergies is a through line in his work.

Collectively, the George Olah and Dedrick Kon ’96 Fellowships honor the legacies of two individuals whose lives were defined by scientific curiosity and intellectual rigor. Both awards allow Poly students to pursue ambitious research and address real-world challenges. Whether developing technology to help communities detect wildfires proactively or advancing medical research to improve the lives of children with food allergies, this year’s recipients represent the spirit that George Olah and Dedrick Kon inspired.