MENDOCINO CO., 4/6/18 — The Mendocino County Science Fair took place March 10, and now the ten winners are preparing to compete in the statewide competition in Los Angeles on April 23 – 24. There, they will join over 900 participants from 400 schools around California to compete for $50,000 in prizes at the California Science Center, in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park.
The Mendocino County science fair showcased 183 projects from 250 students in grades 3 – 12 from 23 different schools. Although the top ten projects will be advancing to the state finals, another ten students were honored as alternate winners as well. Over 50 volunteer judges, parents, and adult organizers helped make the county’s science fair happen this year. Said Kimberly Barden, MCOE Student Events Manager, “The Mendocino County Office of Education really appreciates the teachers, science fair coordinators and parents who support the curiosity and commitment of these students in the field of science. We also deeply appreciate the 54 judges and other volunteers who made this event go so smoothly.”
Students submitted projects as class members, as part of a team, as well as submitting individual projects. Categories included behavioral/health/social sciences, biological sciences, earth sciences, ecology/environmental sciences, engineering/technology (Earth/Space), mathematics as it relates to physical sciences, and physical sciences.
The winners are listed below, in no particular order:
California State Science Fair – Qualifiers
Grade Level Student(s) Project Title School 6-8 Francisco Muniz Coiled and Ready: The Effects of Copper Coils on Steamboats Eagle Peak Middle School 6-8 Adrian Guo Electrolytes & Gatorade Instilling Goodness Elementary Boys School 6-8 Tyler Simreson Heavy Metal Breakfast St. Mary’s Ukiah 9-12 Stephany Brundage Using the C Locus Color Alleles to Prove that Oryctolagus coniculus Ovulates Extra Eggs with a Subsequent Covering (The Rabbit Maury Show) Willits Charter School 6-8 John Michael Kale Magnet Powers Baechtel Grove Middle School 9-12 Mariah Cox A plentiful and Inexpensive fertilizer Alternative: Human Urine Laytonville High School 9-12 Jessica Cronin The Effectiveness of a Homemade vs. Professionally Used Density Gradients Willits Charter School 6-8 Audrey Sherf Save Our Soil Willits Charter School 6-8 Cole Fowler, Carson Galletti Up in Flames St. Mary’s Ukiah 6-8 Kessler Dyche Are Perpetual Motion Machines Possible? Eagle Peak Middle School
California State Science Fair – Alternates
Grade Level Student(s) Project Title School 6-8 Jack Buckingham, Jadyn Arnold The Amazing Adventures of the Hovercraft Baechtel Grove Middle School 6-8 Madeline Armstrong From Garbage to Gorgeous Eagle Peak Middle School 6-8 Alana Richert, Kellie Crisman, Chantel Alarcon Testing 1, 2, 3 Anderson Valley Elementary School 6-8 Willow Daun-Widner Sugar on the Brain Willits Charter School 6-8 Ingrid Mendoza, Vanessa Mercado Detecting Bacteria Baechtel Grove Middle School
LOGO CONTEST WINNERS
Grades 3-5
Hailey Dausman Calpella Elementary School
Grades 6-8
Ashlynn Johnson Three Rivers Charter School
ELEMENTARY DIVISION – CLASS A PROJECTS
Earth Science-Grades 3-4
Gold Allie Grace Southwick, Sofia Vaccaro The Project That Glows Sherwood School Silver Izabella Sims Water Cycle Willits Elementary Charter School Bronze Mason Stornetta Comparing Soils Manchester Union Elementary School
Life Science-Grades 3-4
Gold Rudra Knoles Caffeine vs. Plant Growth Instilling Goodness Elementary Boys School Silver Abigail Sherf Light Lovin’ Leaves Willits Elementary Charter School Bronze Caitlin Richert, Alan Mendoza, Samuel Mejia Mummification Science Anderson Valley Elementary School
Physical Science-Grades 3-4
Gold Matthew Posey Got Milk? Willits Elementary Charter School Silver Nadia Jacobs Pollution Solution Blosser Lane Elementary School Bronze Nova Knodle Fire vs. Ice Willits Elementary Charter School
Earth Science-Grade 5
Gold Kendahl Potter pHat Water Eagle Peak Middle School Silver Kaylie Reeser Wave Energy Generator Instilling Goodness Elementary Girls School Bronze Alexander Miya Floating Water Sherwood School
Life Science-Grade 5
Gold Jade L’Heureux Squirmy Wormy Eagle Peak Middle School Silver