This 15-year-old Fil-Am prodigy is rocking the Science scene
Looking ahead into a bright future, we see the younger generations taking the lead. And Filipino American Alessandra Storm Mauricio is set to help shape the future shaking things up in the Science scene with her genius feat.
Emerging as nothing short of impressive, Storm is rewriting the rules. In 2020, the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) announced her as the youngest presenter at professional medical convention 49th Annual Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS) held virtually during the pandemic era.
This Fil-Am genius with a GPA of 4.86 presented her research “Do Children that Play Video Games Perform Better in Surgery?” to the prestigious AAGL Congress. As the youngest mind to ever present at the age of 12, she bravely faced the critics of expert surgeons grading her abstract.
With her passion and drive for science and learning, Storm explored the unchartered territories of the medical field. Recognizing a gap, she delved into studying the impact of video game playing on laparoscopic surgical skills in children.
Alessandra Mauricio at Yale University
The Fil-Am genius recruited 32 classmates aged 11 for a month-long analysis and experiment using a laparoscopic trainer box. The outcome? Children spending “average to above-average” time playing video games outperformed those who are playing less.
“I was at the California Regional Spelling Bee, the Sacramento Academic Decathlon, and my essay won first place at school. But AAGL’s acceptance of this research is my highest accomplishment! Recently, I completed leadership, engineering, and graphic design courses at the Summer Institute for the Gifted. There, I created PowerPoint videos, that luckily prepared me for the AAGL conference!” exclaimed Storm.
Her findings can soon pave the way for game developers and educators to properly nurture future generations of surgical professionals. Clearly, she is following her parent’s footsteps who are also in the medical sector: Dr. Dennis Mauricio and Dra. Armie Mauricio.
As scientific wits runs her roots, her mom and obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Armie Mauricio stands as her pillar of support with her unwavering love and help in Storm’s journey.
Alessandra Mauricio at her battle in a Spelling Bee in California
In Dr. Maurcio’s own words, “Storm serves as one of the many inspirations who attest: Anyone can succeed. At any age.“
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A glimpse into this Fi-Am genius’ world
But there’s more to her narrative than just her academic genius. Hers is an inspiring story that breaks barriers and sets a new standard for aspiring youths.
Beyond her groundbreaking research that ended up getting submitted to Yale University for further analysis, she stands tall with her other accolades and extracurriculars.
Although she’s not just a surgical wizard, currently, she’s also a normal 15-year-old teenager navigating the seas of high school life at Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, California.
Furthermore, she’s a part of The Scholars Path Program Award — designated for students who passed the required GPA seeking the challenges of rigorous college preparations.
Storm during her campaign for Class Council representative
Meanwhile, her extracurriculars are also shining like her achievements. From snagging the highest achievement award in 2023 to a slew of academic awards (too many to list though), Storm also excels as a Class Council representative attending leadership meetings in different cities.
Whenever she’s not on her books studying, she’s conquering the giants while playing for Junior Varsity Women’s Basketball team. Already a regional and national winner of Academic Decathlon, she also won at STEM competitions and still continues to compete.
Beyond the school walls, she’s a force to reckon with. Storm’s not just all about winning but also sharing. A golden heart with brains? Check. She once donated her prize money to her beloved school.
In terms of spirituality, she’s also leading the way serving as a lector in their church. Let’s not forget that she makes waves on the internet too as she has been a webcast keynote speaker.
Storm hitting the court
Being the Fil-Am genius that she is, it’s not surprising how even when on vacation, she’s not dropping her textbooks. She’s currently knee-deep in Academic Decathlon review in preparation for snagging another win. Not only that, she’s also hitting the basketball court during this vacation.
Storm’s real superpower
Her vital attributes lie not in her scholarly accolades but in what’s within her — humility. Amid her mountain of achievements, she remains respectful, humble and a really happy teenager. Her classmates, teachers and other school leaders, and her father vouch for it.
Dr. Mauricio reflects, “The most important attribute about Storm, though, is that she continues to be a humble and happy person.”
While Storm juggles between her textbooks and basketball, her goals also include service and love. The “Hands to Serve, Hearts to Love Award” bestowed upon her on her last middle school graduation, encapsulates he dedication to exceeding not only academically but also the community.
Proof of her Filipino roots? Her guilty pleasure is a Jollibee meal, because every Fil-Am genius also needs a break or two (not saying bribe).
As her adventure and scientific career continues, she is on a trajectory to redefine the future. The next chapter on the Storm saga? Posting soon for updates.
