Dart Foundation - 2009 Regional Science, Engineering and Technology Fair

Science Fair Winners Get Their Laurels

Regional Science, Engineering and Technology Fair Committee/Herald-Tribune

SARASOTA, FL – The finest young scientific minds in Sarasota County were honored with prizes, scholarships, cash awards and — for two gifted high school seniors — a chance to shine in international competition as the 2009 Regional Science, Engineering and Technology Fair came a close with its annual awards on Thursday, April 16.

Courtesy Photo

Daniel Mullins is one of two Sarasota High School students who will represent the county at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair from May 10 to 15, in Reno, Nevada.

Students from kindergarten through 12th grade were named winners in 12 categories of research.

Sarasota County Schools collaborate with the Education Foundation of Sarasota County and the Sarasota County Fair Association to present the fair each year. Hundreds of Sarasota County public school, private school and home-schooled students participate by completing research studies using the scientific method or technology projects using the engineering method. First-place projects are displayed during the Sarasota County Fair every spring.

Sarasota High School seniors Jonathan Flood and Daniel Mullins will represent the county at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in Reno, Nevada, from May 10 to 15. All expenses for their trip are paid for by the Education Foundation.

The Intel ISEF has been called the "Olympics, the World Cup, and the World Series of science competitions." Now in its 59th year, the Intel ISEF is the world's largest pre-college science competition and the only science project competition for students in grades 9–12. The Intel ISEF brings together students, teachers, corporate executives and government officials from around the world. This year, more than 1,500 students from 50 countries will compete in Reno for more than $4 million in scholarships, tuition grants, scientific equipment and scientific trips.

Susan Puchalla, Sarasota County Schools' K–12 science and health specialist, has directed the fair for the past nine years. The Education Foundation underwrites the regional fair, the county's participation in the Intel competition, and numerous cash awards through the generosity of community sponsors.

The Einstein Sponsor of the Sarasota Regional Science, Engineering and Technology Fair is the Dart Foundation.

The Omar Cooper Student Achievement Award, carrying a $2,000 prize and a year-long mentorship, was presented to Riverview High School junior Nicholas LaMacchia for his engineering project, "Let-tuce-grow."

This year's Dart Foundation Award, carrying a $500 prize, will be presented to Sarasota High senior Jonathan Flood for his biochemistry project, "Process Optimization of Oil Extraction from Tetraselmis Algae for Efficient Use as Biodiesel Fuel."

The Einstein Sponsor of the Sarasota Regional Science, Engineering and Technology Fair is the Dart Foundation. The Carver Sponsor is Florida Power & Light. The Sagan Sponsor is SAMA—Sarasota-Manatee Area Manufacturing Association.

Dedicated to quality education for all children, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County is an independent, not-for-profit organization that works in partnership with the community and Sarasota County public schools. With the support of individuals, families, companies and foundations, the Education Foundation awards more than $1.2 million each year to initiatives including the TeXcellence Computer Donation program, Teacher of the Year, Academic Olympics, classroom grants, fine arts programs, and literacy initiatives. For more information, visit EdFoundation.net or call (941) 927-0965.

2009 Sarasota County Regional Science, Engineering & Technology Fair — Special Awards By School

2009 Intel International Science & Engineering Fair Representatives:
Jonathan Flood, senior; Daniel Mullins, senior; Sarasota High.

New Gate School:

Mu Alpha Theta Award
Determination of the Correct Modes of Inheritance Using Chi-square Analysis, Alexandra Lasley, freshman;

US Army Physical Science Award
Hot Water, Ben Redifer, freshman;

US Public Health Service Award
Big Breaths, Stacy Sekercan, freshman;

North Port High School:

Association for Women Geoscientists Award
Is Wind Power Less Expensive than Coal Generated Power?, Maganne Stewart & Keira White, sophomores;

Phoenix Academy:

American Psychological Association Award
Who Let the Dogs Out ... And Who Didn't Ask?, Megan Davis, sophomore;

Riverview High School:

ASM Materials Education Foundation and
Omar Cooper Student Achievement Award
Let-tuce-grow, Nicholas LaMacchia, junior;

The Planetary Society "Innovation Vision" Award
Falling Gas Prices, Falling Marine Life, Rebecca Brillhart, sophomore;

US Army Life Science Award
To Radiate or Not to Radiate?, Mary Gillam, sophomore;

This year's Dart Foundation Award, carrying a $500 prize, will be presented to Sarasota High senior Jonathan Flood for his biochemistry project....

Sarasota High School:

American Meteorological Society Atmospheric Science Award
A Correlation Between Boat Traffic and Marine Life, Shelby Gladhill, sophomore;
Air Quality, Amanda Holly, freshman;

Dart Foundation Award for Medicine & Health
Ricoh Sustainable Development Award
Society for In-vitro Biology Award, and
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Process Optimization of Oil Extraction from Tetraselmis Algae for Efficient Use as Biodiesel Fuel, Jonathan Flood, senior;

INTEL Excellence in Computer Science Award
Beating the House: Changing the Card-Counting System, William Olson, sophomore;

National Society of Professional Engineers
Effect of the Arrangement of Stainless Steel Plates on the Hydrogen Production Efficiency in an Electrolysis Cell, Wayne Dahlberg, junior;

Office of Naval Research Naval Science Award and
NOAA's "Taking the Pulse of the Planet" Award
Does the Depth of Water Affect the Salinity in Water?, Nick Bologno, freshman;

US Army Math / Computer Science Award and
The Planetary Society "Innovation Vision" Award
Autonomous Robotic Vehicle Localization Utilizing a Laser Triangulation Algorithm, Daniel Mullins, senior;

US Army Engineering Award
What Effect Does Altering a Plane's Wing Rotary Angle Have upon the Fuel Efficiency of the Aircraft?, James Pagan, sophomore;

Yale Science & Engineering Association Inc Award
Bullet Proof Armor Using a Shear Thickening Fluid, Jared Carter, sophomore;

Suncoast Polytechnical High:

US Army Environmental Science Award
Nature's Anatomy, Brandon Heaven and Mitchell Wetherson, freshmen;

US Metric Association Award
Babies 1, 2, 3!, Courtney Minthorn and Tina Bunde, freshmen.

2009 Sarasota County Regional Science, Engineering & Technology Fair
All Category Winners:

Behavioral & Social Sciences:

1st Place, Phoenix Academy, Who Let the Dogs Out ... And Who Didn't Ask?, Megan Davis, sophomore;

Biochemistry:

1st Place, Sarasota High, Process Optimization of Oil Extraction from Tetraselmis Algae for Efficient Use as Biodiesel Fuel, Jonathan Flood, senior;

2nd Place, Sarasota Military Academy, Do Green Bags Prolong the Life of Fruits & Vegetables?, Patrick Hallinan, junior;

Botany:

1st Place, Riverview High, To Radiate or Not to Radiate?, Mary Gillam, sophomore;

2nd Place, Sarasota High, Adaptation of Sandspurs to Human Intervention, Richard Schineller III, freshman;

3rd Place, New Gate School, Cogon Killer, Hannah Voic, freshman;

Chemistry:

1st Place, Sarasota High, Effect of Natural & Commercial Laundry Detergents on Grass, Leah Holst, freshman;

Computer Sciences:

1st Place, Sarasota High, Autonomous Robotic Vehicle Localization Utilizing a Laser Triangulation Algorithm, Daniel Mullins, senior;

Earth Sciences:

1st Place, Sarasota High, Air Quality, Amanda Holly, freshman;

Engineering:

1st Place, Sarasota High, Bullet Proof Armor Using a Shear Thickening Fluid, Jared Carter, junior;

2nd Place, Riverview High, Let-tuce-grow, Robert Bullerdick, senior, & Nicholas LaMacchia, junior;

3rd Place, Sarasota High, Effect of the Arrangement of Stainless Steel Plates on the Hydrogen Production Efficiency in an Electrolysis Cell, Wayne Dahlberg, junior;

Environmental Sciences:

1st Place, Sarasota High, A Correlation Between Boat Traffic & Marine Life, Shelby Gladhill, sophomore;

2nd Place, Riverview High, Falling Gas Prices, Falling Marine Life, Rebecca Brillhart, sophomore;

3rd Place, Sarasota High, Does the Depth of Water Affect the Salinity in Water?, Nick Bologno, freshman;

Mathematics:

1st Place, Sarasota High, Beating the House: Changing the Card-Counting System, William Olson, sophomore;

2nd Place, New Gate School, Determination of the Correct Modes of Inheritance Using Chi-square Analysis, Alexandra Lasley, freshman;

3rd Place, Suncoast Polytechnical High, Permutations, Dylan Jones, freshman;

Medicine & Health Sciences:

1st Place, Sarasota High, Which Pill Has the Fastest Dissolution Time?, Chase Lambert, freshman;

2nd Place, New Gate School, Big Breaths, Stacy Sekercan, freshman;

Physics:

1st Place, Sarasota High, Guitar String Sustain, Garrett Moler, freshman;

2nd Place, Sarasota High, What Effect Does Altering a Plane's Wing Rotary Angle Have upon the Fuel Efficiency of the Aircraft?, James Pagan, sophomore;

Zoology:

1st Place, Sarasota High, Robert's Bay Rookery Island Bird Population, Michael Donofrio, sophomore, & Christina Morgan, sophomore.