Students from Latta, Bartlesville, Grove, Miami, Moore, Tulsa and Vici were the grand prize winners in the 2012 Oklahoma State Science & Engineering Fair and the Oklahoma Junior Academy of Science State Meet held annually at East Central University in Ada.
A combined 256 projects were in the competition for cash prizes and other awards.
In the OSSEF, the $500 Best of Fair Award in Division I (grades 10 to 12) went to Mishana Ellison, a sophomore at Latta High School, for her project, “An examination of plant stomatal response to changing atmospheric conditions.”
Chandler Holliman, a 9th grade student at Bartlesville High School, won the OSSEF $500 Best of Fair Award in Division II (grades 7 to 9) for his project, “Leaf Particle Board Behind.”
Ellison and Hayden Allen of Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa were awarded trips to compete in the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburg, Pa., May 13-18. Allen’s research is titled “Investigating the factors that influence the Liesegang Ring Phenomenon.”
Southmoore High School and Grove Middle School also won OSSEF school team trophies for having the most winners in the competition’s nine categories.
Paden Salisbury, a 9th grade student from Vici Public Schools, won the OJAS award for the best paper in the Junior High Biological Sciences category with her project on “Urban Garden: The Study of Hydroponic Windowfarms.”
In the OJAS Junior High Physical Sciences category, Thaddeus Towle, a 9th grade student at Grove High School, was recognized for his research on “The Sun Can Get it Done. A comparison of AC charged vs. AC charged with solar panel assist during operation of a battery powered RC vehicle.”
In addition to the trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair, Casia Hall’s Hayden Allen won in first place in Physical Sciences in the OJAS Senior High division, and Taylor Gaines, a junior from Miami High School, won in Biological Sciences. Gaines’ research was on “Finding New Antimicrobial Compounds: Isolation of Biologically Active Compounds from Eastern Red Cedar Trees.”
Gaines and Samantha Curran were awarded trips to the American Junior Academy of Sciences and AAAS meeting in Boston, Mass., Feb. 14-18 to present their research. Curran is a senior from Southmoore High School and her research is titled “Sweet Poison: A Second Year Study.”
Moore High School and Grove Middle School won the OJAS school team trophies for having the most papers in this year’s competition.