11 AISD Students Shine at Regional Science Fair, 3 Projects Advance to State Competition
The competition engages students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Kalvry Cooper from Victory Early College HS stands next to her award-winning entry.
[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]T[/dropcap]he science fair season is over. Eleven Aldine ISD students earned honors at the regionals. Three of those projects advanced to the state contest.
The [icons icon_name=”icon-eye-close” icon_size=”14px”]regional science included 900 projects from 117 schools in 18 different districts. Just how are the winners and award recipients chosen? To cover that much ground, 500 judges took part.
Davis HS — Alberto Morales
Students first competed in [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]district-level contests. The top three winners in each category advanced to regionals. Winners of the regional competition advance to the [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]state contest.
At each level of the competition, students kept enhancing their projects. They also polished their presentation skills. Students had to be ready to present a three- to five-minute presentations to the judges. The presentation gives a description of their projects. Students also prepared to answer questions any time a judge stopped by their exhibit.
Grantham Academy — Jarely Leal & Noriah Durón
Xandra Williams-Earlie says the entire process is a learning experience for students. She serves as program director of secondary science.
“Science is really an active, live process,” said Williams-Earlie. “Students can begin the process by thinking that a project or experiment will result in one thing. As they get the data, it may turn out to be something quite unexpected. They have to figure out what do they do or go from that point. What will they discover? That is real science.
“The science fairs are fun experiences. Students share their excitement about their projects. And it’s great to see the judges’ own interest in the students’ work. The judges also take time to share their expertise. That kind of rapport can impact a student’s decision to pursue a STEM field.“
[icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Creativity in science education is essential.
Davis HS — Irineo Sánchez
The regional science fair offers many ways for students to compete and earn recognition. Aside from science projects, there are quiz bowls and a poster design contest. The latter encourages students to think about science and engineering in an artistic way. They can create imaginative interpretations of the substance of science and engineering. Poster winners don’t advance to state contest. But they do receive recognition at the SEFH Award Ceremony.
Grantham Academy students brought four awards. Three students at Victory Early College High School earned honors. Nimitz Ninth Grade School and Davis High School each had two students receive recognition.
Victory Early College HS — Keeshawn & Kendale Baker
Teammates Noriah Durán and Jarely Leal from Grantham Academy advanced to state. High school students Alberto Morales and Kalvry Cooper advanced to state as well. They are students at Davis High School and Victory Early College High School, respectively.
The AISD students did not win at the state event. But Williams-Earlie could not be more proud of the students’ accomplishments. She hopes to see more students take part in the 2017 competition.
State Science Fair — Kalvry Cooper & Alberto Morales
“The students did outstanding work in the science fair contests,” said Williams-Earlie. “I hope the science fair competition motivated and inspired them. Science should be fun and in the end, what is most important is for students to grow from the experience.
“The program helps develop students into confident individuals. The program is rigorous. By the end, they will develop the discipline and drive to reach their goals. The science fair program give students a chance to explore STEM fields. It gives them a little taste of a possible future. In the end, they may just find their passion to pursue STEM careers. That would be really great.”
Regional Results
Middle School Awards
Nimitz Ninth Grade School — Joana Zavala
*1st Place — Noriah Duran & Jarely Leal
Category: Life Science Team Division
Project: Leaf Chromatography
Campus: Grantham Academy
Teacher: Nancy Soria
“Show It Off” Special Invitation to Present Project @ Reliant Energy Convention — Gabrielle García
Category: Mathematics
Project: Going, Going … Gone
Campus: Grantham Academy
Teacher: Nancy Soria
“Ouside the Box Thinking” Award in the Computer Science Quiz — Luis Duarte
Qualifying Regional Project in Computer Science Category
Project: Increase Wi-Fi Internet Speed With Household Items?
Campus: Grantham Academy
Teacher: Nancy Soria
High School Awards
Nimitz Ninth Grade — Nicole Jimenez
*3rd Place — Alberto Morales
Category: Biochemistry Microbiology
Project: Sewage Lights
Campus: Davis HS
Teacher: Susan Craig
*3rd Place — Kalvry Cooper
Additional Awards: $1,000 internship at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
Category: Computer Science
Project: “uAnderstand?”
Campus: Victory Early College HS
Teacher: Lyn Del Monte
Honorable Mention — [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Irineo Sánchez
Additional Awards: Boy Scouts of America-Sam Houston Area Council Certificate
Category: Energy & Transportation
Project: Hovering with Speed
Campus: Davis HS
Teacher: Scott McKinney
$1,000 Internship at Houston Museum of Natural Science — Keeshawn Baker & Kendale Baker
Category: Physical Science Team Division
Project: The 2D Code
Campus: Victory Early College HS
Teacher: Lyn Del Monte
2nd Place in Poster — Joana Zavala @ Nimitz 9th Grade
3rd Place in Poster — Nicole Jimenez @ Nimitz 9th Grade
Noriah Duran and Jarely Leal from Grantham Academy got a surprise when their returned from the state science fair. They received a nomination to compete in the Broadcom MASTERS program for top STEM talent. Winners earn cash prizes. The Broadcom MASTERS program engages students and the public in scientific research and education.
Grantham Academy students Luis Duarte, Gabrielle García, Noriah Durón and Jarely Leal (center, l-r) pose proudly with the certificates they earned at the Science Engineering Fair of Houston. Far left is Nancy Soria. She is the gifted and talented science teacher. Deena Logan stands on the far right. Logan is the science specialist and magnet coordinator at the campus.
Congratulations!
[icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Grantham Academy is a magnet school for engineering. The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]campus received a [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]School of Excellence Award from Magnet Schools of America in 2006. Grantham also received the MSA School of Distinction Award in 2004, 2005 and 2007.
[icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Victory Early College HS gives AISD students an opportunity to get ahead. Students can complete two years of college credit. The campus made [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Newsweek’s top 500 U.S. schools ranking. Victory ECHS also earned recognition in [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]U.S. News & World Report‘s high school rankings. The campus also ranked in [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Niche’s Top 100 Best High Schools in the Houston area. The campus is a [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]2015 Blue Ribbon School.
About the Author: Leticia Fehling
