Lusby, MD – With all of his accomplishments, it is hard to believe that Dezmon Estep is only a freshman in high school.
The Patuxent High School student has already won several awards for his science fair projects, has obtained an internship with Robiotech and has been nominated to attend the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders.
Estep says his interest in science and technology stemmed from robotics experiments that he did in seventh grade with his teacher Mr. Klapper.
“I started to get genuinely interested,” said Estep. “Then, he introduced me to science fair and helped me a lot with my project. I think my accomplishments in science fair are my biggest because it was so hard for me. I had not done anything like that before.”
Estep’s project “Shape Matters to Windmill Blades” in the Calvert County Science and Engineering Fair was selected as the Johns Hopkins University Engineering Alumni’s honorable mention. Estep’s inspiration for the project came from his interest in the shape of helicopter blades, so he transferred that idea onto windmill blades.
Estep’s most recent science fair project “Correcting the Automobile” was inspired by Estep’s drive to improve his skill set.
“The one robotics experiment that I could never really get down was car sensory and how to have the car go around the classroom and correct itself,” Estep said. “So I adopted the idea, changed a few of the variables and started tinkering with it, trying to make it work.”
That tinkering led Estep to winning the Unmanned Systems Chief Engineer Award and another honorable mention from the Johns Hopkins University Engineering Alumni.
The project was made possible by Brian Jordan, President of Robiotech Corporation. Jordan gave Estep the first ever Robiotech Science Grant for his science fair project because he was so impressed with Estep’s talent and success.
The interest in his talents also led to Jordan offering Estep a summer internship at Robiotech.
“The internship is about robotics and bioengineering. It’s basically using robotics to fix biological problems, like if someone loses a hand,” Estep said.
Estep’s success has also earned him a nomination to attend the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Boston, Massachusetts from June 19 through July 1.
“I’ll get to meet some of the brightest minds and see what type of science is currently out there,” Estep said.
He is also interested in improving his skills and gaining more knowledge in his field.
“One of the questions I’ll probably ask when I get there is how to do algorithms successfully,” said Estep. “Ever since I did my second science fair project, algorithms are the thing that has been mentioned a lot that I need to improve on.”
Even though Estep is very talented in the science and technology sector of academics, it is not his only interest.
He is a percussionist in Patuxent High School’s marching band and hopes to become a successful drummer one day. He and his band even won the school’s annual talent show this February.
“I was really inspired by my dad,” Estep said. “He is also a drummer. My entire family is full of musicians.”
Estep is also involved in Place at the Table, a program that allows him to mentor a young student at Appeal Elementary School. Estep is passionate about his experience there and is one of only three freshmen involved in the program.
Even with all of his time being spent working on science projects or mentoring students, Estep says he wants to act in the fall theatre show next year and is considering trying out for the basketball team.
“I just like to do a lot of stuff. I will try almost any activity,” Estep said.
Looking toward the future, Estep says he wants to go to college but isn’t quite sure where he wants to go. He does know that he wants to study mechatronics, so that he can pursue his interest in robotics and mechanical engineering.
He also wants to pursue his dream of becoming a successful drummer.
“I want to become a great drummer like my dad,” Estep said. “I also want to create something that’s really going to help people.”
Estep would like to thank his mother Sandy Estep, his middle school science teacher Matthew Klapper, his English teacher Eric Heisler, his current science teacher Ann Marie Hartsig and the science fair coordinator Paul Gray for their help in his successes.
