Roanoke County Students Perform Well at Regional Science Fair
Twenty-two students from Roanoke County Public Schools placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd or Honorable Mention during the annual Western Virginia Regional Science and Engineering Fair held March 21 at Virginia Western Community College. The event brings together students from school systems across the greater Roanoke Valley to present research projects and compete for prizes and awards.
First place projects in the High School Division will compete in the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair held at George Mason University April 3-4. Two grand award winners will compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair in Reno, Nevada May 10-16.
Each first place winner at the high school level received a renewable $1,500 scholarship to Roanoke College and a one-year tuition scholarship to Virginia Western Community College. Female first place award winners also received a $5,000 renewable scholarship to Hollins University.
Cash prizes for high school winners included $30 (1st place), $20 (2nd place), $15 (3rd place) and $10 (Honorable Mention). Cash prizes for middle school winners included $20 (1st place), $15 (2nd place), $10 (3rd place) and $5 (Honorable Mention).
The following Roanoke County students placed in their respective categories:
High School Division:
Animal Sciences category:
- 1st place: The Effect of Bisphenol A on the Development Artemia by Sarah Zillioux (CSHS/RVGS – 11th grade)
- Honorable Mention: Cricket Response to Various Sound Frequencies by Colin Bittner (GHS – 10th grade)
Biochemistry/Chemistry category:
- 2nd place: What is the Effect of Storage Temperature on Battery Energy? by Dylan Tokotch (CSHS – 9th grade)
Energy and Transportation category:
- 3rd place: Effect of Different Temperatures on Electrical Efficiency of Solar Panels by Alexander Paul Thomas (CSHS/RVGS – 9th grade)
- Honorable Mention: The General of Mechanical Energy Through Passive Solar Heating by David Moylan (HVHS 11th grade)
Engineering/Physics category:
- 1st place (tie): Exploring the Magneto-Transport Properties of a Semiconductor Sample by Nadia Aly (HVHS/RVGS – 12th grade)
- Honorable Mention: Mosquito Ringtones: Is it true only kids can hear it? by Daniel Vieth (HVHS – 10th grade)
Environmental Sciences category:
- 1st place (tie): The Leaching of Bifenthrin through Different Soils by Jordan Gulli (WBHS/RVGS – 11th grade)
- Honorable Mention: The Effect of Biomediation in Nitrates in Groundwater by Elyse Parker (HVHS – 10th grade)
Environmental Sciences/Plant Sciences category:
- 1st place: The Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals by Allison White (CSHS/RVGS 11th grade)
- 3rd place: The Effect of Sucralose in Photosynthesis in Elodea densa by Suellen Li (HVHS/RVGS 11th grade)
Plant Sciences category:
- 1st place (tie): The Effect of Irradiating Raphanus sativus Seeds on Growth by Matthew Meise (NHS/RVGS – 10th grade)
- 2nd place: The Effect of UV Exposure on the Growth of Lactuca sativa by Ethan Scott (CSHS/RVGS – 11th grade)
Mathematical Sciences/Computer Sciences category:
- 1st place (tie): Determining the Coefficient of Friction Between Rubber and Plaster Using a Programmed NXT Robot by Noah Luther(HVHS/RVGS – 9th grade)
- 3rd place: Mathematical Logic and Tic Tac Toe by Abby Caldwell (GHS/RVGS – 10th grade)
Medicine and Health/Chemistry/Behavioral and Social Sciences category:
- 3rd place: Questioning the Roanoke County Public Schools Grading Scale by Hayden Smith (HVHS – 9th grade)
Microbiology category:
- 1st place (tie): Effectiveness of Preservatives to Inhibit Botrytis cinerea Growth on Strawberries by Jared Johnson (NHS/RVGS – 11th grade)
Team projects category (group 1):
- 2nd place: Bottled Water: Is it safe? By Andrew Johnson and Matthew Gallimore (NHS – 9th grade)
Team projects category (group 2):
- 1st place: LMNO Q by Caroline Thomsen (GHS/RVGS – 11th grade) and Leigh Ann Haley (Staunton River HS/RVGS)
Middle School Division:
Chemistry/Physics category:
- 2nd place: Rust Never Sleeps by Alexandra Cox (HVMS – 8th grade)
- 3rd place (tie): What Type of Aluminum Foil Produces the Most Electricity in an Aluminum Air Battery? by Michael Waering (NMS – 7th grade)
Engineering/Energy and Transportation category:
- 1st place: Solar energy at Its Best by Sebastian Wellford (CSMS – 7th grade)
- 3rd place: The Force of Compression Springs with Different Number of Coils by Alexander Nguyen (CSMS – 7th grade)
Medicine and Health/Plant Sciences/Environmental Sciences/Earth and Space Sciences category:
- 1st place: The Effect of Climate on Bacteria by Carly Jenison (WBMS – 7th grade)
- 3rd place: Spirometric Lung Function Tests in Middle School Band Students by Matthew Myers (HVMS – 8th grade)