In the last couple of years, Ian Bouligny, has made a name for himself at Catholic High School and around the state in competing in science fair projects.

During the week of May 13 through 19, Bouligny made a name for himself around the world as he captured a first, first runner-up, and second place honors at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held in Albuquerque, N.M.

At the ISEF, Bouligny competed against approximately 1,500 students from 45 states and 50 foreign countries, Overall there were 1,250 projects in the competition.

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Bouligny, will be a senior at CHS when school opens in August, took home $3,000 plus prizes for finishing second in the grand awards in electrical engineering, and was also named first runner-up for the London International Fortnight, a European Study Program which brings students throughout the world to England for a two week seminar and tour.

"My project was a design of a human leg except all the joints are motorized and areas where it is useful in physical therapy to speed up recovery rates," said Bouligny. "It took me three years to make the project and I worked some really long days and nights on this project. Winning second place out of 1,500 students is not bad. Also, I won an Army award for runner-up overall and that comes with some cool prizes like an alternative trip to London and $1,500 in cash".

Bouligny said he was really pleased with his results.

"I worked really hard because I put in a lot of work," he said. "The whole ordeal was fun and to see people of different cultures coming together and competing was really exciting and fun. For next year's competition I plan to elaborate on this year project and make it better".

Donald "Doc" Voorhies, CHS science fair director, said he is really proud of Bouligny.

"As a top winner, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Lab through it's CERES program sent Bouligny's name to the International Astronomical Union and one of the asteroids which they have discovered will be permanently named after him," he said. "All minor planets (the new name for asteroids) named in the Ceres Connection program have been discovered by the Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program. Hopefully his will stay in orbit and not head towards the earth!".