LAPS NEWS RELEASE
Los Alamos Public Schools is sending 34 students to this year’s Northeastern New Mexico Regional Science & Engineering Fair. Students qualified for the regional science fair after placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention in the Junior and Senior divisions of their respective categories at the Los Alamos County Science Fair held virtually last weekend.
The Regional Science & Engineering Fair will be held on March 12 at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM.
Los Alamos High School senior Robert Strauss was named Grand Champion in the Life Science Senior Division for his project, “Protein Structure Prediction with Quantum Computing.” LAHS sophomores Andres Iturregui and Daniel Kim were named Grand Champions in the Physical Science Senior Division for their project “Developing a Control Algorithm and Simulation for Thrust Vector Controlled Rockets.”
In the Junior Division, Los Alamos Middle School 7th grader Aislinn Marshall received the Grand Champion award in Physical Science with the project titled “Why did the Digger Survive?” John Fung, Barranca Elementary, and Natan Svyatsky, homeschool, were named Grand Champions in the Life Science Junior Division for their project titled “Fertilizing: Friend or Foe?”
Eva Abeyta is the County Science Fair Director and was assisted by Pamela Miller. Appreciation and gratitude is extended to members of the Science Fair committee who helped organize this year’s event and to all of the judges who came out and helped judge all of the projects. Head judges this year included Cathy Snelson, David Coblentz, and Mark Petersen.
The Science Fair Committee members for 2022 are:
Aspen Elementary – Amy Gilbert and Heather Coy
Barranca Mesa Elementary – Stephanie Martinez
Chamisa Elementary – Robert Judd
Mountain Elementary – Mary Alice Hawkins
Piñon Elementary – Tara Deines
Los Alamos Middle School – Adrienne Hetrick
Los Alamos Online Learning Academy (LAOLA) – Kara Dolence
Los Alamos High School – Michela Ombelli
Here are the results from the County Science Fair:
Senior Division Award Winners:
Cellular and Molecular Biology
1st place: Robert Strauss, 12th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Protein Structure Prediction with Quantum Computing”
Computer Science
1st place: Hayden Kim, 9th grade, Topper Freshman Academy, “COVID 19 Spread Model Using Agent-based Modeling”
Electrical and Mechanical
1st place: Andres Iturregui, 10th grade, and Daniel Kim, 10th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Developing a Control Algorithm and Simulation for Thrust Vector Controlled Rockets”
2nd Place: Phillip Ionkov, 12th grade, and Ming-Yuan Lo, 11th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Designing a System to Build Telescope Mirrors in Space”
Environmental Sciences
1st place: Brayden Allen, 9th grade, Topper Freshman Academy, “The blue green monster in Abiquiu”
Materials and Bioengineering
1st place: Aaron Philip, 12th grade, and Leonid Svyatsky, 11th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Myelinated Axon-Based Approach to Signal Transmission”
Microbiology
1st place: Kelly (Isabella) McTeigue, 11th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Dr. Clean Mask: Wear Again or Replace?”
Physics and Astronomy
1st place: Michael Bane, 9th grade, Topper Freshman Academy, “Aerofoil Optimization”
Junior Division Award Winners:
Animal Science
1st place: Aven Heavner, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Does diet affect hen’s eggs? An eggcellent science fair project”
Behavioral and Social Science
1st place: Matthea Fung, 8th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire”
2nd place: Mary Seet, 6th grade, and Noah Virgilio, 6th grade, Aspen Elementary, “Are there Gender Differences in Phobias?”
3rd place: Niamh Colgan, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Think Fast”
Chemistry
1st place: Anna Kerstiens, 6th grade, and Haven Rathburn, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “What method is best for getting oil out of water?”
2nd place: Carmen Cawkwell, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Smoothie Power! Which juices have the most vitamin C?”
3rd place: Maya Somasekharan, 6th grade, Mountain Elementary, “Would butter make cupcakes rise higher or would oil make cupcakes rise higher?” Honorable Mention: Noah Bane, 7th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “Is that really clean?”
Los Alamos Public Schools is sending 34 students to this year’s Northeastern New Mexico Regional Science & Engineering Fair. Students qualified for the regional science fair after placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention in the Junior and Senior divisions of their respective categories at the Los Alamos County Science Fair held virtually last weekend.
The Regional Science & Engineering Fair will be held on March 12 at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM.
Los Alamos High School senior Robert Strauss was named Grand Champion in the Life Science Senior Division for his project, “Protein Structure Prediction with Quantum Computing.” LAHS sophomores Andres Iturregui and Daniel Kim were named Grand Champions in the Physical Science Senior Division for their project “Developing a Control Algorithm and Simulation for Thrust Vector Controlled Rockets.”
In the Junior Division, Los Alamos Middle School 7th grader Aislinn Marshall received the Grand Champion award in Physical Science with the project titled “Why did the Digger Survive?” John Fung, Barranca Elementary, and Natan Svyatsky, homeschool, were named Grand Champions in the Life Science Junior Division for their project titled “Fertilizing: Friend or Foe?”
Eva Abeyta is the County Science Fair Director and was assisted by Pamela Miller. Appreciation and gratitude is extended to members of the Science Fair committee who helped organize this year’s event and to all of the judges who came out and helped judge all of the projects. Head judges this year included Cathy Snelson, David Coblentz, and Mark Petersen.
The Science Fair Committee members for 2022 are:
Aspen Elementary – Amy Gilbert and Heather Coy
Barranca Mesa Elementary – Stephanie Martinez
Chamisa Elementary – Robert Judd
Mountain Elementary – Mary Alice Hawkins
Piñon Elementary – Tara Deines
Los Alamos Middle School – Adrienne Hetrick
Los Alamos Online Learning Academy (LAOLA) – Kara Dolence
Los Alamos High School – Michela Ombelli
Here are the results from the County Science Fair:
Senior Division Award Winners:
Cellular and Molecular Biology
1st place: Robert Strauss, 12th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Protein Structure Prediction with Quantum Computing”
Computer Science
1st place: Hayden Kim, 9th grade, Topper Freshman Academy, “COVID 19 Spread Model Using Agent-based Modeling”
Electrical and Mechanical
1st place: Andres Iturregui, 10th grade, and Daniel Kim, 10th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Developing a Control Algorithm and Simulation for Thrust Vector Controlled Rockets”
2nd Place: Phillip Ionkov, 12th grade, and Ming-Yuan Lo, 11th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Designing a System to Build Telescope Mirrors in Space”
Environmental Sciences
1st place: Brayden Allen, 9th grade, Topper Freshman Academy, “The blue green monster in Abiquiu”
Materials and Bioengineering
1st place: Aaron Philip, 12th grade, and Leonid Svyatsky, 11th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Myelinated Axon-Based Approach to Signal Transmission”
Microbiology
1st place: Kelly (Isabella) McTeigue, 11th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Dr. Clean Mask: Wear Again or Replace?”
Physics and Astronomy
1st place: Michael Bane, 9th grade, Topper Freshman Academy, “Aerofoil Optimization”
Junior Division Award Winners:
Animal Science
1st place: Aven Heavner, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Does diet affect hen’s eggs? An eggcellent science fair project”
Behavioral and Social Science
1st place: Matthea Fung, 8th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire”
2nd place: Mary Seet, 6th grade, and Noah Virgilio, 6th grade, Aspen Elementary, “Are there Gender Differences in Phobias?”
3rd place: Niamh Colgan, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Think Fast”
Chemistry
1st place: Anna Kerstiens, 6th grade, and Haven Rathburn, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “What method is best for getting oil out of water?”
2nd place: Carmen Cawkwell, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Smoothie Power! Which juices have the most vitamin C?”
3rd place: Maya Somasekharan, 6th grade, Mountain Elementary, “Would butter make cupcakes rise higher or would oil make cupcakes rise higher?” Honorable Mention: Noah Bane, 7th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “Is that really clean?”
In the Junior Division, Los Alamos Middle School 7th grader Aislinn Marshall received the Grand Champion award in Physical Science with the project titled “Why did the Digger Survive?” John Fung, Barranca Elementary, and Natan Svyatsky, homeschool, were named Grand Champions in the Life Science Junior Division for their project titled “Fertilizing: Friend or Foe?”
Eva Abeyta is the County Science Fair Director and was assisted by Pamela Miller. Appreciation and gratitude is extended to members of the Science Fair committee who helped organize this year’s event and to all of the judges who came out and helped judge all of the projects. Head judges this year included Cathy Snelson, David Coblentz, and Mark Petersen.
The Science Fair Committee members for 2022 are:
Aspen Elementary – Amy Gilbert and Heather Coy
Barranca Mesa Elementary – Stephanie Martinez
Chamisa Elementary – Robert Judd
Mountain Elementary – Mary Alice Hawkins
Piñon Elementary – Tara Deines
Los Alamos Middle School – Adrienne Hetrick
Los Alamos Online Learning Academy (LAOLA) – Kara Dolence
Los Alamos High School – Michela Ombelli
Here are the results from the County Science Fair:
Senior Division Award Winners:
Cellular and Molecular Biology
1st place: Robert Strauss, 12th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Protein Structure Prediction with Quantum Computing”
Computer Science
1st place: Hayden Kim, 9th grade, Topper Freshman Academy, “COVID 19 Spread Model Using Agent-based Modeling”
Electrical and Mechanical
1st place: Andres Iturregui, 10th grade, and Daniel Kim, 10th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Developing a Control Algorithm and Simulation for Thrust Vector Controlled Rockets”
2nd Place: Phillip Ionkov, 12th grade, and Ming-Yuan Lo, 11th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Designing a System to Build Telescope Mirrors in Space”
Environmental Sciences
1st place: Brayden Allen, 9th grade, Topper Freshman Academy, “The blue green monster in Abiquiu”
Materials and Bioengineering
1st place: Aaron Philip, 12th grade, and Leonid Svyatsky, 11th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Myelinated Axon-Based Approach to Signal Transmission”
Microbiology
1st place: Kelly (Isabella) McTeigue, 11th grade, Los Alamos High School, “Dr. Clean Mask: Wear Again or Replace?”
Physics and Astronomy
1st place: Michael Bane, 9th grade, Topper Freshman Academy, “Aerofoil Optimization”
Junior Division Award Winners:
Animal Science
1st place: Aven Heavner, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Does diet affect hen’s eggs? An eggcellent science fair project”
Behavioral and Social Science
1st place: Matthea Fung, 8th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire”
2nd place: Mary Seet, 6th grade, and Noah Virgilio, 6th grade, Aspen Elementary, “Are there Gender Differences in Phobias?”
3rd place: Niamh Colgan, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Think Fast”
Chemistry
1st place: Anna Kerstiens, 6th grade, and Haven Rathburn, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “What method is best for getting oil out of water?”
2nd place: Carmen Cawkwell, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Smoothie Power! Which juices have the most vitamin C?”
3rd place: Maya Somasekharan, 6th grade, Mountain Elementary, “Would butter make cupcakes rise higher or would oil make cupcakes rise higher?” Honorable Mention: Noah Bane, 7th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “Is that really clean?”
Earth and Planetary Science
1st place: Payton Sutherland, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Cloud Cover”
2nd place: Amelia Hill, 7th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “Precursors to Electric Discharge”
3rd place: Elena Roybal, 6th grade, Aspen Elementary, “Which Material Biodegrades Faster?”
Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical
1st place: Aislinn Marshall, 7th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “Why did the Digger Survive?”
Mathematical Science
1st place: Michael Petersen, 6th grade, Mountain Elementary, “What is the best strategy for Mastermind?”
Medicine and Health Sciences
1st place: Jinwoo Kim, 7th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “What is healthy bradycardia?”
2nd place: Liv Niklasson, 7th grade, and Anna Simakov, 7th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “ABCD: Abundance of Bacteria Contaminating Daily Lives”
3rd place: Samantha Stone, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, “The effect of sugar on your body”
Physics and Astronomy
1st place: Gavin Bent, 7th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “Starry Spectroscopy”
1st place: Tate Plohr, 7th grade, Los Alamos Middle School, “Relationship between boiling temperature of water and altitude”
Plant Sciences
1st place: John Fung, 6th grade, Barranca Elementary, and Natan Svyatsky, Homeschool, “Fertilizing: Friend or Foe?”
Elementary Award Winners:
Earth Science
1st place: Alexander Sherrill, 4th grade, Mountain Elementary, “What kind of rock am I?”
2nd place: Amanda Saxena, 5th grade, Mountain Elementary, “Hydroponics”
3rd place: Dakota Brazfield, 4th grade, Aspen Elementary, “How Clouds are Made”
Honorable Mention: Antonio Martin-DeVargas, 5th grade, LAOLA, “Soda Eruption”
Life Science
1st place: Joaquin Granja Reyes, 4th grade, Aspen Elementary, “Can magnets improve plant growth?”
2nd place: Riley Fensin, 5th grade, Mountain Elementary, “How does temperature affect yeast?”
3rd place: Emma Justus, 5th grade, Barranca Elementary, “How bad is soda for your teeth?”
Honorable Mention: Rebekah Scott, 5th grade, Aspen Elementary, “Don’t Grow So Close to Me!”
Physical Science
1st place: Haley Bishofberger, 5th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Are you on the right foot (on the ice)?”
2nd place: Alexander Justus, 5th grade, Barranca Elementary, “Internet Blockers”
3rd place: Burke Tastan, 5th grade, LAOLA, “Can you make a penny corrode?”
Honorable Mention: Adam Cincio, 5th grade, Mountain Elementary, “Fruit and veggies vs electricity”
Honorable Mention: Yuiko Yamaguchi, 5th grade, Mountain Elementary, “Rusting Metal”
Grand Awards for Elementary:
Earth Science: Alexander Sherrill, 4th grade, Mountain Elementary
Life Science: Joaquin Granja Reyes, 4th grade, Aspen Elementary
Physical Science: Haley Bishofberger, 5th grade, Barranca Elementary