Emma and Sarah Simmons won the U.S. Army’s “Ecybermission” National Judging & Educational Event, ninth-grade division, held June 24-28, for their wearable biomedical engineering prototype that expands access to remote healthcare. The win garnered them a very large trophy, medals, and $10,000 each in U.S. savings bonds.

They are in the process of applying for a U.S. patent.

To get to the finals, Emma and Sarah won the PA state and North East Regional Ecybermission competitions. Nearly 6,500 sixth through ninth graders, on more than 2,000 teams across 40 U.S. states and territories, competed. Sixty-seven students, composing 20 teams, made it to the finals.

During the week-long event in Chantilly, Virginia, Emma and Sarah presented their biomedical engineering project before a panel of U.S. Army engineers and scientists and then presented their project in a live-streamed showcase event.

Earlier this year, Emma and Sarah also won the Grand Champion Award in the 2024 Pennsylvania Governor ’s STEM competition and the Grand Champion Award at the 2024 regional York-Adams Science and Engineering Fair. Altogether this year, they have won three trophies, various medals, and approximately $25,000 in prize money (all of which is earmarked for their college educations).

The twin sisters are rising tenth graders. Emma is interested i n pursuing a career in equine veterinary research and biomedical engineering . Sarah plans to major in either biomedical or aerospace engineering. Both gi rls are currently homeschooled by their parents, Dr. Lisa McLeod-Simmons, a higher education consultant, and Dr. Jeffrey Simmons, a science professor at Mount St. Mary’ s University.

Emma Simmons (left) and Sarah Simmons (right) win the U.S. Army’s “Ecybermission” National Judging & Educational Event, ninth-grade division, for their wearable biomedical engineering prototype.