From the time Finnegan Miller was in middle school, he wasn’t content to simply study science. He wanted to test it, question it and see it at work.
In seventh grade, he began experimenting with mold growth on fruit, examining different species and observing how organisms interact. What started as curiosity quickly became something more.
“I discovered a love for fungi and the science of mycology,” he said.
That early fascination grew into a defining passion for the Conrad Weiser High School senior, who was named the Berks’ Best 2026 winner in science and environment.
Miller, 18, a son of Jason and Rebecca Miller of Robesonia, plans to attend Cornell University to study food science with the goal of working in food safety and research. He hopes to focus on controlling pathogens, such as salmonella and listeria, while also developing more environmentally sustainable food production and packaging.
He has already conducted award-winning research exploring how mushrooms can break down plastics and filter harmful chemicals such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals that persist in the environment. His work earned him the Lemelson Early Inventor Award and top honors at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science at the regional and state levels.
Miller envisions a future where fungi could reshape the way human-generated waste is handled.
His passion for science is rooted in a deep respect for the natural world, something he credits largely to his grandfather, Stephen Miller, a longtime agriculture teacher.
“He would give me lessons on the wildlife around Pennsylvania, whether it’s what’s being grown in the fields or what’s out in the backyard,” Miller said.
At school, Miller has paired that perspective with leadership. A four-year member of FFA, he rose to serve as chapter president, guiding the group through a successful year that included national-level competition. He also has been active in FBLA, student council, National Honor Society and athletics.
“Finn does not simply participate; he invests himself fully in every endeavor,” wrote Adam Serfass, his agricultural science teacher and FFA adviser.
Outside the classroom, Miller has coached youth soccer, worked as a camp counselor and taken on landscaping jobs in his community. He also applies his environmental values in everyday life, removing invasive species from local ecosystems.
At home, he sees his most important role as a big brother to his younger sibling, Sullivan, 5.
“I try to be a role model for him by spending time together, sharing interests and teaching him new things,” Miller said.
That includes simple science lessons aimed at inspiring the same type of curiosity that guided Miller from a patch of mold to his goal of making the world cleaner, safer and more sustainable.