Hillcrest HS students win national science competition

A Dallas ISD high school's proposed project to aid Type 1 diabetes patients helped it win a nationwide science competition.

Hillcrest High School won Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition and the $20,000 prize that went with award.

The research project involved studying a protein important with the development of the pancreas.

"If we're able to turn this protein on people with pancreatic cancer or with diabetes then perhaps we could cure the cancer," said senior Gabe Noble.

The school was one of 51 state winners, including Washington D.C., selected from more than 3,000 submissions across the United States.

"These kids give up their weekends to do research," said teacher Ward Coats. "They're not normal kids and it's pretty amazing to watch the transition."

The prize money will pay for more classroom technology to help the students in their studies.