Heman Bekele, a freshman at W.T. Woodson High School in Virginia, has just been named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year. This young inventor first gained attention when he won the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge with a soap that could help treat and prevent skin cancer.
Heman moved to Virginia as a four-year-old but never forgot his roots in Ethiopia. The memories of people working long hours under the harsh sun stayed with him as he made his way through Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). The differences in skin cancer survival rates between Sub-Saharan Africa and countries with advanced treatments motivated him to act.
“Skin cancer is mostly found in people living in developing countries,” Heman explains. “But the average cost of an operation is $40,000. I was devastated by the idea of people having to choose between treatment and putting food on the table for their families. There are so many preventable deaths.”
Determined to find a better way, Heman dove into research. He learned about dendritic cells, which help protect the skin by boosting immune response. After months of experimenting with ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and tretinoin, he developed Skin Cancer Treating Soap (SCTS). This soap works by reactivating dendritic cells, offering a potential low-cost solution for those at risk.
What started as a fun science experiment turned into a lesson in persistence. “It was so difficult to get a bar of soap that didn’t just melt immediately,” Heman recalls. He finally succeeded by using 3M Cavilon, coconut oil, and organic shea butter. “Persistence is a very important part of the scientific process,” he adds.
Heman’s journey through the 3M Young Scientist Challenge was supported by a mentor from 3M, as well as researchers from the University of Virginia, FCPS teachers, and his parents—especially his mom, Muluemebet Getachew, a special education teacher at FCPS’s Lynbrook Elementary School.
His determination and innovative spirit embody the goals of FCPS’s Strategic Plan, particularly “Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation,” which aims to prepare students for the future. Heman secured his victory at 3M’s Global Headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he competed against nine other finalists. The contestants were judged on their creativity, application of STEM principles, passion, research, presentation skills, and ability to inspire others.
With his title as “America’s Top Young Scientist” comes a $25,000 prize, which Heman plans to use toward securing a patent and funding his college education. He also dreams of launching a nonprofit by 2028 to distribute his soap in low-income communities.
Heman’s achievements don’t stop there. On October 20, 2024, he will have the honor of ringing the New York Stock Exchange’s closing bell, which is just another step in his journey to change the world.
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