Winners in the Senior Division at the LAPS Science Fair with Acting Asst. Supt. Carter Payne. Courtesy LAPS
LAHS Junior Daniel Kim, left, was awarded Best of Show for the Senior Division in the 2023 Los Alamos County Science Fair and LAPS Acting Asst. Supt. Carter Payne. Courtesy LAPS
Junior Division award winners with LAPS Acting Asst. Supt. Carter Payne. Courtesy photo
Award winners in the Elementary Division in the LAPS District Science Fair. Courtesy LAPS
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
More than 65 projects were on display as students from elementary, middle and high school participated in the 2023 Los Alamos County Science Fair this past weekend. Thirty-two students qualified for the 2023 Northeastern New Mexico Regional Science Fair which will be hosted by New Mexico Highlands University on March 11.
Los Alamos High School junior Daniel Kim was awarded Best of Show for the Senior Division for his project in the Environmental Sciences category, “Mapping Anthropogenic Ocean Litter with an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle.”
Head judge for the Science Fair was Cathy Snelson, with assistants Jonas Kintner and Nishath Ranasinghe.
County Science Fair Director Eva Abeyta and Assistant Director Pamela Miller played a major role behind the success of the Science Fair. “Your hard work has not gone unnoticed,” said Acting Assistant Superintendent Carter Payne during the elementary and junior/senior award ceremonies in the Los Alamos Middle School gym Saturday evening.
Members of the Science Fair committee included Amy Gilbert and Emily Christensen, Aspen Elementary; Stephanie Martinez, Barranca Mesa Elementary; Deidre Thorn, Chamisa Elementary; Mary Alice Hawkins, Mountain Elementary; David Krell and Tera Deines, Piñon Elementary; Naomi Unger, Los Alamos Middle School; Jacqueline Griego, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy; Michela Ombelli, Los Alamos High School and Lynn Strauss, community volunteer.
Over 75 students shared over $3,700 in cash and gift certificates provided by community sponsors including PEEC, Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos, Los Alamos Master Gardeners, Science Fair Committee, American Society for Materials LA Chapter, Pajarito Astronomers, Bradbury Science Museum, Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra, New Mexico Consortium, Pajarito Masonic Lodge, AAUW Los Alamos, LAMS PTO, Los Alamos Garden Club and an anonymous donor.
2023 Los Alamos County Science Fair Awards
Best of Show for Elementary Division
Earth Science: Julian Delorey, Barranca Mesa Elementary
Life Science: James Junghans, Barranca Mesa Elementary
Physical Science: Neal Somasekharean, Mountain Elementary, and Alexander Sherrill, Mountain Elementary
Best of Show for Class Projects
Grades K – 2: Mrs. Littleton’s Class, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy
Grades 3 – 4: Mrs. Griego’s 3rd/4th Grade, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy
Best of Show for Junior Division
Life Science: John Fung, Los Alamos Middle School
Physical Science: Rebekah Scott, Aspen Elementary, and Aditya Viswanathan, Los Alamos Middle School
Best of Show for Senior Division
Physical Science: Daniel Kim, Los Alamos High School
Winners of the Elementary Division awards with Acting Asst. Supt. Carter Payne. Courtesy LAPS
Elementary Division Awards
Earth Science
Honorable Mention – Julian Delorry, Barranca Mesa Elementary
Honorable Mention – Mrs. Littleton’s 2nd Grade Class, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy
Life Science
1st – James Junghans, Barranca Mesa Elementary
2nd – Sequoya Ke and Benji Minko, Mountain Elementary
3rd – Oliver Saenz, Chamisa Elementary
Honorable Mention – Sebastian Holtkamp, Chamisa Elementary
Physical Science
1st – Alexander Sherrill, Mountain Elementary
2nd – Fiona Smith, Mountain Elementary
3rd – Javier Chacon, Max Renner and Lane Metcalf, Mountain Elementary
Honorable Mention – Natalia Griego, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy
Honorable Mention – Neal Somasekharan, Mountain Elementary
Elementary Award Winners by Category:
Earth Science
HM- Julian Delorey, “Impact Craters from Asteroids” – Barranca HM- Mrs. Littleton’s 2nd Grade Class, “Observing the Water Cycle”, LAOLA
Life Science
HM – Sebastian Holtkamp, “Best Growing Conditions”, Chamisa 3rd- Oliver Saenz, “The Rise of Yeast”, Chamisa
2nd- Sequoya Ke & Benji Minko, “Effects of Different Liquids on a Type of Food”, Mo
1st – James Junghans, “What affects Mold Growth on bread?”, Barranca
Physical Science
HM- Natalia Griego, “Solar Oven”, LAOLA
HM- Neal Somasekharan, “Nature’s Tie Dye”, Mountain
3rd- Javier Chacon, Max Renner & Lane Metcalf, “Liquid Launchers”, Mountain
2nd- Fiona Smith, “How Can I Bike more Successfully at High Altitude?”, Mountain
1st – Alexander Sherrill, “Comparing Lemon Batteries to Regular Batteries”, Mountain
Best of Show for Elementary –
| Earth Science Julian Delorey, Barranca | |
| Life Science | James Junghans, Barranca |
| Physical Science | Neal Somasekharan, Mountain and Alexander Sherrill, Mountain |
Best of Show for Class Projects:
Grades K-2: Mrs. Littleton, LAOLA
Grades 3-5: Mrs. Griego, Grades 3rd/4th LAOLA
Special Awards Elementary
| Student Name Amount Organization | ||
| Aiden Cole | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Alexander Sherrill | $50 GC to NM Museum of Natural History & Science | Pajarito Masonic Lodge |
| Alexander Sherrill | $50.00 | American Society for Materials LA Chapter |
| Alexander Sherrill | $20.00 AAUW Los Alamos | |
| Alexander Sherrill | $20.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Chul-So Ritter | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Chul-So Ritter | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Clare Reardon | $20.00 PEEC | |
| Clare Reardon | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Clare Reardon | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Eleanor Nora Haaser | $20.00 PEEC | |
| Eleanor Nora Haaser | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Emma Mosby | $20.00 AAUW Los Alamos | |
| Emma Mosby | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Ethan Mendez | $50.00 | American Society for Materials LA Chapter |
| Ethan Mendez | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Evan Guerrero | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Evan Guerrero | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Fiona Smith | $50 GC to NM Museum of Natural History & Science | Pajarito Masonic Lodge |
| Fiona Smith | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Fiona Smith | $20.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Genevieve Marshall | $30.00 Los Alamos Garden Club | |
| Genevieve Marshall | $30.00 Los Alamos Master Gardeners | |
| Genevieve Marshall | $20.00 AAUW Los Alamos | |
| Genevieve Marshall | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Henry Rodarte | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Henry Rodarte | $20.00 AAUW Los Alamos | |
| Henry Rodarte | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| James Junghans | $20.00 AAUW Los Alamos | |
| James Junghans | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Javier Chacon/Lane Metcalf/Max Renner | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Javier Chacon/Lane Metcalf/Max Renner | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Jocelyne Dolejsi | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Jocelyne Dolejsi | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Julian Delorey | $30.00 Pajarito Astronomers | |
| Julian Delorey | $5.00 Anonymous | |
| Julian Delorey | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Julian Delorey | $50.00 | American Society for Materials LA Chapter |
| Julian Delorey | $20.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Laura Hill | $40 GC to Gadget Museum | Bradbury Science Musuem |
| Laura Hill | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Laura Hill | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Leeza Trudolyubov | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Mason Garcia | $40 GC to Gadget Museum | Bradbury Science Musuem |
| Mason Garcia | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Mason Garcia | $20.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Mrs. Becky Littleton’s 1st Grade Class | $10.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Mrs. Becky Littleton’s 1st Grade Class | $50.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Mrs. Becky Littleton’s 2nd Grade Class | $10.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Mrs. Becky Littleton’s 2nd Grade Class | $50.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Mrs. Becky Littleton’s Kindergarten Class | $50.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Mrs. Becky Littleton’s Kindergarten Class | $35.00 Los Alamos Garden Club | |
| Mrs. Becky Littleton’s Kindergarten Class $30.00 Los Alamos Master Gardeners | ||
| Mrs. Becky Littleton’s Kindergarten Class | $10.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Mrs. Griego’s 3rd/4th Grade Class | $10.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Mrs. Griego’s 3rd/4th Grade Class | $30.00 AAUW Los Alamos | |
| Mrs. Griego’s 3rd/4th Grade Class | $50.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Natalia Griego | $50 GC to NM Museum of Natural History & Science | Pajarito Masonic Lodge |
| Natalia Griego | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Natalia Griego | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Neal Somasekharan | $10.00 Anonymous | |
| Neal Somasekharan | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Oliver Saenz | $5.00 Anonymous | |
| Oliver Saenz | $5.00 LAMS PTO | |
| Oliver Saenz | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Riley O’Brien | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Sebastian Holtkamp | $20.00 PEEC | |
| Sebastian Holtkamp | $35.00 Los Alamos Garden Club | |
| Sebastian Holtkamp | $30.00 Los Alamos Master Gardeners | |
| Sebastian Holtkamp | $20.00 AAUW Los Alamos | |
| Sebastian Holtkamp $20.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | ||
| Sequoya Ke and Benji Minko | $40 GC to Gadget Museum | Bradbury Science Musuem |
| Sequoya Ke and Benji Minko | $50 GC to NM Musuem of Natural History & Science | Pajarito Masonic Lodge |
| Sequoya Ke and Benji Minko | $10.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
Junior Division Awards
Animal Science
1st – Aislinn Marshall, Los Alamos Middle School
2nd – Simeon Capolungo and Hans Gardner, Mountain Elementary
3rd – Aleyana Baca, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy
Behavioral & Social Science
Honorable Mention – Sarah Haaser, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy
Chemistry
1st – Rebekah Scott, Aspen Elementary
2nd – Burke Tastan, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy
3rd – Eliot Work, Los Alamos Middle School
Honorable Mention – Riley Fensin, Mountain Elementary
Earth & Planetary Science
Honorable Mention – Luke Patterson, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy
Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical
1st – Natan Svyatsky, Los Alamos Middle School
2nd – Linus Plohr, Mountain Elementary
Honorable Mention – Bronze Strum, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy
Honorable Mention – Max Wilson, Barranca Mesa Elementary
Engineering: Materials & Bioengineering
1st-Antonio Martin-DeVargas, LAOLA
Environmental Science
1st – Aditya Viswanathan, Los Alamos Middle School
Medicine & Health Sciences
1st – Yuiko Yamaguchi, Mountain Elementary
2nd – Grace Norman, Piñon Elementary
Microbiology
1st – John Fung, Los Alamos Middle School
2nd – Jasper Stauffer, Piñon Elementary
3rd – Julia Neale, Barranca Mesa Elementary
Physics & Astronomy
1st – Tate Plohr, Los Alamos Middle School
2nd – Brailyn Manzanares, Barranca Mesa Elementary
3rd – Boden Holmes, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy
Honorable Mention – Haley Bishofberger, Barranca Mesa Elementary
Plant Sciences
1st – Amelia Hill, Los Alamos Middle School
2nd – Iris Butcher, Los Alamos Online Learning Academy
Senior Division Awards
Chemistry
Honorable Mention – Jason Zhao, Los Alamos High School
Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical
1st – Andres Iturregui , Los Alamos High School
2nd – Michael Bane, Los Alamos High School
Environmental Sciences
1st – Daniel Kim, Los Alamos High School
For a complete list of award winners and their projects, click here.
Junior Division Award Winners by Category:
Animal Science
3rd – Aleyana Baca, “Does Sandclear Really work on Horses?”,LAOLA
2nd – Simeon Capolungo and Hans Gardner, “Will the Temperature of the Incubator affect the Chicken Hatches?”, Mountain the Time
1st – Aislinn Marshall, “Hummingbird Preferences”, LAMS
Behavioral and Social Science
HM – Sarah Haaser, “Moo Moo Meadows Destruction”, LAOLA
Chemistry
HM- Riley Fensin, “What steps in making chocolate mousse affect the outcome the most if all ingredients are left in the recipe?”, Mountain
3rd- Elliot Work, “Burn, Baby, Burn”, LAMS
2nd- Burke Tastan, “What Method Can Create Verdigris Or Patina The
Fastest?”, LAOLA
1st- Rebekah Scott, “Fun Filtration”, Aspen
Earth and Planetary Science
HM- Luke Patterson, “Jungle in a Jar”, LAOLA
Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical
HM – Max Wilson, “Linear Alternator Experiment”, Barranca
HM – Bronze Strum, “Television Audio Repair”, LAOLA
2nd – Linus Plohr, “Which Materials Best Block Sound?”, Mountain
1st – Natan Svyatsky, “Jets on Water”, LAMS
Medicine and Health Sciences
2nd – Grace Norman, “Which Band-aid Sticks the Longest?”, Pinon
1st- Yuiko Yamaguchi, “UV Light Blocking”, Mountain
Physics and Astronomy
HM – Haley Bishofberger, “Finding the Right Angle”, Barranca
3rd – Boden Holmes, “Playing with Infinity Mirrors”, LAOLA
2nd- Brailyn Manzanares, Brian Scott, Thomas West, “Origami Airplane”, Barranca
1st – Tate Plohr, “The Stability of Solar Flares”, LAMS
Plant Sciences
2nd – Iris Butcher, “Reveal the Red: Exploring the Chemistry of Red Flower Pigments.”, LAOLA
1st – Amelia Hill, “The Effect of Magnetic Fields on Bean Plants”, LAMS
Microbiology
3rd – Julia Neale, “What’s Growing in my School?”, Barranca
2nd – Jasper Stauffer, “Mushroom Moisture”, Pinon
1st – John Fung, “Another Whey: Creating Curd Cultures”, LAMS
Materials and Bioengineering:
1st – Antonio Martin-DeVargas, “The Surprising Strength of an Eggshell”, LAOLA
Environmental Science:
1st – Aditya Viswanathan, “What are Birds Telling us about Climate Trends?”, LAMS
Best of Show for Junior Division –
| Life Science John Fung, LAMS | |
| Physical Science Rebekah Scott, Aspen & Aditya Viswanathan, LAMS | |
Senior Division Award Winners:
Chemistry
HM- Jason Zhao, “Structure Define Property”, LAHS
Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical
2nd – Michael Bane, “Optimizing Robotic Crawlers”, LAHS
1st- Andres Iturregui, “Developing an Autonomous Aerial Package Transport System”, LAHS
Environmental Sciences
1st – Daniel Kim, “Mapping Anthropogenic Ocean Litter with an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle”, LAHS
Best of Show for Senior Division –
| Physical Science Daniel Kim, LAHS |
Special Awards for Junior and Senior Division:
| Student Name Amount Organization | ||
| Aditya Viswanathan | $30.00 PEEC | |
| Aditya Viswanathan | $25.00 Felden Krais Los Alamos | |
| Aditya Viswanathan | $50.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Aislinn Marshall | $30.00 PEEC | |
| Aislinn Marshall | $25.00 Felden Krais Los Alamos | |
| Aislinn Marshall | $50.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Allison Martinez | $10.00 | |
| Amelia Hill | $35.00 Los Alamos Master Gardeners | |
| Andres Trujillo | $10.00 Science Fair Committee | |
| Antonio Martin-DeVargas | $65.00 | American Society for Materials LA Chapter |
| Astro Saune | $25.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Boden Holmes | $30.00 Pajarito Astronomers | |
| Boden Holmes | $40 GC to Gadget | Museum Bradbury Science Museum |
| Bronze Shrum | $50.00 | Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra |
| Elliott Work | $25.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Haley Bishofberger | $25.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Harper Van Winkle | $10.00 Science Fair Committee | |
| Iris Butcher | $25.00 Los Alamos Master Gardeners | |
| Iris Butcher | $50.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Jacob Gerber | $10.00 Science Fair Committee | |
| Jasper Stauffer | $30.00 PEEC | |
| Jasper Stauffer | $50.00 Los Alamos Master Gardeners | |
| Jasper Stauffer | $25.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| John Fung | $100.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Lilly-Rose Wrightson/Jelena Wakefield | $10.00 Science Fair Committee | |
| Linus Plohr | $75.00 | American Society for Materials LA Chapter |
| Linus Plohr | $50.00 | Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra |
| Luke Patterson | $25.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| American Society for Materials Max Wilson $50.00 LA Chapter | ||
| Natan Svyatsky | $40 GC to Gadget | Museum Bradbury Science Museum |
| Natan Svyatsky | $25.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Peter Maginot/Alexander Sandborgh | $10.00 Science Fair Committee | |
| Riley Fensin | $25.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Sarah Haaser | $50.00 | Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra |
| Sophie Burns | $10.00 Science Fair Committee | |
| Tate Plohr | $30.00 Parjarito Astronomers | |
| Tate Plohr | $50.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Yuiko Yamaguchi | $40 GC to Gadget | Museum Bradbury Science Museum |
| Yuiko Yamaguchi | $25.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Zane Vaughn | $25.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Andres Iturregui | $40 GC to Gadget | Museum Bradbury Science Museum |
| Andres Iturregui $150.00 | ||
| Daniel Kim | $50.00 PEEC | |
| Daniel Kim | $40 GC to Gadget | Museum Bradbury Science Museum |
| Daniel Kim | $65.00 | American Society for Materials LA Chapter |
| Daniel Kim | $200.00 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos | |
| Jason Zhao | $75.00 | American Society for Materials LA Chapter |
| Michael Bane | $40 GC to Gadget | Museum Bradbury Science Museum |
| Michael Bane | $50.00 | American Society for Materials LA Chapter |
| Michael Bane | $150.00 | |