William Borovina, an 8th grader at Los Alamos Middle School, was awarded 1st place in the Animal Science Junior Division as well as Best in Show Life Science Junior division for his project on a comparison of hardness between collected fossil shark teeth and modern shark teeth. Photo Courtesy LAPS
LAPS NEWS
Fifty-nine students participated in the 2021 Los Alamos County Science Fair this past weekend, with six projects being named best of show in the elementary, junior and senior categories. Every student participant is considered to be a winner.
“We were able to host the Science Fair while sticking to the current COVID restrictions ” said County Science Fair Director Eva Abeyta. She was assisted by Pamela Miller in planning this year’s event.
Head judges David Coblentz, Cathy Snelson, and Karen Borovina used an online platform for a virtual science fair to judge the projects virtually. Students and parents were able to attend the awards ceremony on Saturday using Google Meet. Members of the Science Fair committee included Pamela Miller, Aspen Elementary; Stephanie Martinez, Barranca Elementary; Cindy Richard, Chamisa Elementary; Mary Alice Hawkins, Mountain Elementary; Sara Snowball, Piñon Elementary; Adrienne Hetrick, Los Alamos Middle School; Erin Manzanares, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy; and Stephanie Meyer, Los Alamos High School.
Students awarded first, second and third place as well as honorable mention in the Junior and Senior Division are eligible for the 2021 Northeastern New Mexico Regional Science Fair hosted by New Mexico Highlands University. The virtual event is scheduled for March 27.
Receiving awards were:
Best of Show
Elementary
Life Science: Aven Heavner, Barranca Elementary
Physical Science: Haley Bishofberger, Barranca Elementary
Junior
Life Science: William Borovina, LAMS
Physical Science: Hyunoo Kim, LAMS
Senior
Life Science: Karin Ebey, LAHS
Physical Science: Robert Strauss, LAHS
Elementary Awards
Life Science
1st – Aven Heavner, Barranca Elementary
2nd – Ana Saenz, Chamisa Elementary
3rd – Gianna Rolfe, Aspen Elementary
Honorable Mention – Semih Zeytun, Mountain Elementary
Physical Science
1st – Haley Bishofberger, Barranca Elementary
2nd – Arwen Moore, Mountain Elementary
3rd – Carmen Cawkwell, Barranca Elementary
Honorable Mention – Rebekah Scott, Aspen Elementary
Honorable Mention – Oliver Mosby, Barranca Elementary
Junior Awards
Animal Science
1st – William Borovina, LAMS
2nd – Sarah Sullivan, Barranca Elementary
3rd – Erica Heidlage, Barranca Elementary
Behavioral & Social Science
1st – Matthea Fung, LAMS
2nd – Avery Olsen, Barranca Elementary
3rd – Erin Bordnax, LAOLA
Chemistry
1st – Wilson White, LAMS
2nd – Diego Pacheco, Barranca Elementary
3rd – Sumner Tholen, Barranca Elementary
Computer Science
1st – Hyunoo Kim, LAMS
Honorable Mention – Jens Wald Hopkins, Piñon Elementary
Earth & Planetary Science
1st – Aditya Viswanathan, Barranca Elementary
2nd – Gerrianna Romero, Piñon Elementary
Energy & Transportation
1st – Zoe Bent, LAMS
Honorable Mention – Emmitt Tibbitts, LAOLA
Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical
1st – Aislinn Marshall, Mountain Elementary
2nd – Brayden Allen, LAMS
Engineering: Materials & Bioengineering
Honorable Mention – John Pulsipher, LAOLA
Environmental Sciences
1st – Malaika Philip, LAMS
2nd – Penelope Barry-Hoffman, LAMS
3rd – Ciara Colgan, Barranca Elementary
Mathematical Sciences
3rd – Kieran Gattiker, LAMS
Medicine & Health Sciences
1st – Angus Smith, Mountain Elementary
2nd – Izzabel Stone, Barranca Elementary
Physics & Astronomy
1st – Lilia Viteva, Mountain Elementary
2nd – Tate Plohr, Mountain Elementary
3rd – McKenzie Gerlicher, Mountain Elementary
Honorable Mention – Annie White, LAMS
Plant Science
1st – Amelia Hill, Aspen Elementary
Senior Awards
Animal Science
1st – Karin Ebey, LAHS
Honorable Mention – Julian Singell & Veronica Parra, TFA
Chemistry
1st – Aaron Philip, LAHS
Computer Science
1st – Robert Strauss, LAHS
Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical
1st – Andres Iturregui & Daniel Kim, TFA
Physics & Astronomy
1st – Anthony Lestone & Phillip Ionkov, LAHS
For a complete list of award winners and their projects, click here.
Photo caption: William Borovina, an 8th grader at LAMS, was awarded 1st place Animal Science Junior division as well as Best in Show Life Science Junior division for his project on a comparison of hardness between collected Fossil shark teeth and Modern shark teeth.