Three area high school students earned top spots in the Delaware Valley Science Fairs.

Lijia Xie, 17, of Lansdale, a senior at North Penn High School, was a silver medalist for his biochemistry project. He developed a urine test to detect liver cancer.

Devin Cody, 18, of Doylestown, a senior at Germantown Academy, won the bronze medal. His chemistry project, called Capturing the Spectrum, increased the efficiencies of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Kerri Diamond, 14, a freshman at Souderton Area High School, was a gold medalist for her computer project exploring which insects food-finding methods are most effective.

The students were among more than 1,000 competing in the regional science fair. Because they are among the top three winners from ninth to 12th grades, they will compete next month in the 64th annual Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix.

The students get an all-expense-paid trip, worth about $1,500 per person, to the international science fair.

Several other high school students from the region placed in the Delaware Valley Science Fairs, though they will not be advancing to the international competition.

Mounika Kanneganti, a senior at Central Bucks West, earned first place in biochemistry.

Ryan Shaprio, a senior at Central Bucks West, earned an honorable mention in chemistry.

Matthew Kolosick, a senior at Central Bucks East, earned third place in computer science.

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3 area students advance to international science fair