By Elena Ruiz

elruiz@demingheadlight.com @LenaHeadlight on Twitter

Sammy Homsi, a seventh-grader at Red Mountain Middle School, is pictured with his science teacher Guyla Miller. Homsi received the Judges Special Science Award in April at the New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge in Los Alamos. (Courtesy Photo)

A simple trip to the Mimbres Memorial Nursing Home turned into a science project for a local 11-year old.

Sammy Homsi, a seventh grader at Red Mountain Middle School, recently won a prestigious award at the 24th New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge held at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Red Mountain Middle School and Deming High School teams participated in this year's Supercomputing Challenge. They came along with schools from around the state for exciting STEM projects, competition and college scholarships. Homsi received a Special Judge's Award: Social Science for the project, "Depression In Nursing Homes."

"I was happy with all the medals, trophies and recognition, but what made this whole experience special is the way people perceived my project." said Homsi. "The judges appreciated my effort and research to try and reduce the level of depression affecting the elderly in the nursing homes."

Homsi says that even though he may not find a cure for depression, he felt is was his duty to shine a light on depression in nursing homes and issues that affect the community.

"My project is more than a science fair project. It started with wanting to volunteer in the nursing home and ending with a science fair project," he added. "The main idea of my research is to find ways to reduce the level of depression among the elderly in nursing homes. I concluded that we all need to be loved and cared for, but as we get older, we need our families to be closer and more loving."

Homsi has received many awards within the state. He was first place at his school in Behavioral and Social Sciences, second place at the New Mexico State University Science Fair in the Behavioral and Sciences, and the American Psychological Association Award.

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Homsi receives judges' science award