TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - Two Tucson students are flying to Washington, D.C., on Thursday to compete in a national science competition, representing southern Arizona among 30 finalists nationwide.

The competition, hosted by Thermo Fisher Scientific, comes as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports science jobs are growing faster than any other sector.

Arizona report card data shows Tucson students perform poorly on state exams, particularly in science. Less than 20% tested proficient in science last year. Through a combination of school support, extracurriculars, and dedication, Simone Alexandria Smith from Salpointe Catholic and Luca McGill from Tanque Verde High beat the odds and rose to the top.

Student projects tackle real-world problems

Smith’s project focuses on landmine d

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