W.T. Woodson High School freshman Heman Bekele moved to Virginia as a four-year-old. But he never forgot where he was born: Ethiopia.

Heman, newly crowned “America’s Top Young Scientist” after winning this year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge, says the memories of people working long hours outside under the glaring sun in Ethiopia stayed with him as he made his way through the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) school system. A graduate of Wakefield Forest Elementary School and Frost Middle School, Heman was struck by the dramatic differences in skin cancer survival rates in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa compared to places where high tech cancer treatments are available.

“Skin cancer is mostly found on people who live within developing countries,” Heman says. “But the average price for 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.”

He was determined to find a better way. So Heman researched skin cancer, learning about dendritic cells, which he says help protect skin by boosting immune response. Then he spent months playing with salicylic acid, glycolic acid and tretinoin, trying to find the right combination to help treat skin cancer. He developed SCTS, which stands for skin cancer treating soap, and works by reactivating dendritic cells.

 

“I was just looking for a fun science experiment at first,” he says.

The process taught him the value of persistence, Heman says, with one major challenge being how to find the right combo to ensure the soap held together without flaking into pieces. Using 3M Cavilon (a moisturizer and barrier cream), coconut oil, and organic shea butter, he was able to make that happen.

“It was so difficult to get a bar of soap that didn’t just melt immediately,” Heman says, adding he probably tried a dozen different combinations. “Persistence is a very important part of the scientific process.”

 

As Heman advanced in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, he received support from a 3M assigned mentor who worked with him over the summer to transform his initiative into a prototype.  Heman also thanks University of Virginia researchers, FCPS teachers and his own parents -- including his mom Muluemebet Getachew who is a special education teacher at  FCPS's Lynbrook Elementary School -- for supporting him and developing his love of science. 

His diligence exemplifies goal #5 of the FCPS Strategic Plan, "Leading for Tomorrow's Innovation," which seeks to ensure students are preparing for the future

He secured his victory during challenge events at 3M’s Global Headquarters in St. Paul, Minn. earlier this month. The final 10 contestants were evaluated on their ingenuity and innovative thinking, application of STEM principles, demonstration of passion and research, presentation skills and ability to inspire others, according to a 3M press release.

Along with his title comes a $25,000 prize, which Heman hopes to put toward securing a patent and college. On Friday, Oct. 20, Heman will have the distinct honor of ringing the New York Stock Exchange’s bell to end the trading day. His future goals include developing a non-profit organization that will ultimately distribute his soap in low-income communities by 2028.

 

All told, Heman’s product, SCTS can be made for $0.50 a bar, or $8.50 for a pack of 20 bars, he says. He believes using the soap every few days can help treat certain forms of skin cancer.

A vast improvement over a $40,000 operation.

Read more about the FCPS Strategic Plan.

Watch Fox5's live morning show interview with Heman.

Watch NBC4's coverage of Heman.

Read WTOP Radio's story about Heman.