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Region 8 Western Regional Science Fair
Our Region 8 Winners Won Big at the NC State Science Fair, 2009! See a list of our winners (pdf) and then see photos of all the state winners.
Winners from the Senior Technology/Engineering category are pictured. See all theWestern Regional elementary (grades 3-6) winners, the junior (grades 6-8) winners and the senior (grades 9-12) winners.
Congratulations to the 2009 Western Regional Science Fair Winners
Students from several Western North Carolina school systems recently took top honors at Western Carolina University’s annual Western Regional Science Fair and are on their way to the state competition in March.
Six hundred students attended, with more than 200 students from 16 counties competing at the annual two-day event sponsored by WCU, held at the Ramsey Regional Activity Center. Students in the elementary division, grades three through five, presented on Feb. 18 and older students, grades six through 12, presented on Feb. 19.
“We were extremely pleased with the large number of entries this year, but especially the quality of the projects," said Kefyn Catley, science fair director and WCU associate professor of biology.
"In particular there was an encouraging increase in the number of students investigating green-themed projects concerned with today’s very real issues of pollution and energy and water conservation.”
The first- and second-place students, as well as the eight elementary division winners, have the chance to compete at the 22nd Annual N.C. Science and Engineering Fair at Meredith College in Raleigh on March 27-28.
ELEMENTARY DIVISION (Grades 3-5)
First, Taylor Tipton, Mountain Community School, “Save that Water!” Second, Ian Crews, The Mountain Community School, “Xylem: The Plant Pipeline.” Third, Alexandra McNeely, TC Henderson Elementary, “Up, Up and a Down.” Honorable Mentions: Madeleine Hatch, Mountain Community School, “What Goes Up, Must Come Down; But How Fast?”; Evan Grant, Cullowhee Valley School, “What is the Effect of Blade Pitch on Wind Turbine Performance?"; Cade Brinkley, Rosman Elementary, “The Tale of William Tell”; Kohner Miller, Rosman Elementary, “Egg-ceptional Tooth Whiteners”; and Evan Cox, Blue Ridge Academy, “Mouthwash Effectiveness."
JUNIOR DIVISION (Grades 6-8)
Junior Biological Science-First, Brandy Wightman, Waynesville Middle School, "Help the Hemlocks." Second, Evan Deweese, Murphy Middle School, "Soaking Up Waves." Third, Eleanor Palmer, Mountain Community School, "They're Back - Tracking the Emergence of Seventeen-Year Cicadas." Honorable Mentions: Brandon Gee and Noah Tittle, Mountain Community School, "Auditory vs. Kinesthetic vs. Visual Memory"; Noelle Lee, Asheville Middle School, "The Effect of Temperature on the Gas Production of Yeast."
Junior Earth/Environmental Science-First, Sabrina Coulter, Waynesville Middle School, "Run Water Run." Second, Silas Crews, Mountain Community School, "Acid Precipitation at Different Elevations." Third, Jose Vera, Waynesville Middle School, "Toxic or Clean Water." Honorable mentions: Jon Miller, Ridgetop Academy, "Drinking Water?"; Meredith Tooley, Brevard Middle, "Soil Impediment."
Junior Physical Science-First, Jenna Silver, Glenwood Elementary, "Tee Time." Second, Brock Helton, East Rutherford Middle School, "Does the Flash Wear Heavy or Light Shoes." Third, Bryson Smith, East Rutherford Middle School, "Strength of Wood." Honorable Mentions: Emily Miller, Smokey Mountain Elementary, "Got Gas?"; Robbie Luther and Carson Chet, Mountain Community School, "Fuel of the Future."
Junior Technology/Engineering-First, Erik Myers, Fairview Elementary, "Hook, Line and Sinker." Second, Hunter Trombetta, Mountain Community School, "Solar Activity and the Ionosphere." Third, Daniel Taylor and Joshua Tourtellotte, Brevard Middle School, "Hydrogen vs. Fossil Fuel." Honorable Mentions: Duncan LeMay, Cullowhee Valley, "The Light in the Attic"; Aidan McKinney, Francine Delaney New School, "Will the Wind Speed in an Average Dowtown Corridor Exceed that of an Average Wind Turbine Area."
SENIOR DIVISION (Grades 9-12)
Senior Biological Science-Kathryn Wells, Hendersonville High, "Osmo-What?" Second, Mikaela Howell, Tuscola High, "Red Light/Green Light." Third, Caleb Oates, Hendersonville High, "Do X-Rays Affect Plant Growth?" Honorable Mention: Laura Cope, Tuscola High, "Teeth Stain;" Wesley Albrecht, Tuscola High, "Freezing Lady Bugs."
Senior Earth/Environmental Science-First, Sally Dixon, Tuscola, "Black Hole." Second, Cassie Ledford, Tuscola High, "Stain Test." Third, Maria Quintero, Tuscola High, "Crowded Beans."
Senior Physical Science-Donald Butler, Tuscola High, "Pop Bottles." Second, Jessica Luisi, Tuscola High, Reverse Micelle Synthesis. Third, Tyler Matthews, Hendersonville High, "Index of Refraction." Honorable Mentions: Lilly Rolfe, Hendersonville High, "Which Citrus Fruit Produces the Most Electricity?"; Karissa Stamey, Tuscola High, "I Spy."
Senior Technology/Engineering-First, Kyle Decker, Hendersonville High, "Paper Plane Dynamics." Second, Olivia Palmer, Hendersonville High, "Up, Up and Away." Third, Lauren Lankford, Tuscola High, "Golden Eagle." Honorable Mention: Joshua Fernandez, Tuscola High, "Wind Power;" Ernest Hill, Tuscola High, "The Stroop Effect."
Senior Team Project-First, John Burrows, Brooke Burrows, and Matt Travers; Brevard High, "Detection of Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis in Salamander Populations of Transylvania County."
In addition to the competition awards, several organizations present special awards for projects in a particular research area. Those are: the United States Air Force 14th Weather Squadron Award for outstanding work in the field of atmospheric science, Alexandra McNeely, TC Henderson Elementary, “Up, Up and a Down;” the Western Regional Science Fair Director's Award for the best project in organismal biology, Danica Sequoyah, Cherokee Elementary, "Science and Cherokee Culture;" the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute Award for outstanding work in the field of astronomy, Ella Hunt, Brevard Elementary, "Counting with the Stars;" the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Award for the best animal health project, John Burrows, Brooke Burrows, and Matt Travers, Brevard High, "Detection of Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis in Salamander Populations of Transylvania County;" the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) Award for high standards in technology and/or engineering, Kyle Decker, Hendersonville High, "Paper Plane Dynamics" and Olivia Palmer, Hendersonville High, "Up, Up and Away."
For more information about the WCU Western Regional Science Fair, contact Kefyn Catley at kcatley@wcu.edu.
Winners from the Senior Technology/Engineering category are pictured. See all theWestern Regional elementary (grades 3-6) winners, the junior (grades 6-8) winners and the senior (grades 9-12) winners.
Congratulations to the 2009 Western Regional Science Fair Winners
Students from several Western North Carolina school systems recently took top honors at Western Carolina University’s annual Western Regional Science Fair and are on their way to the state competition in March.
Six hundred students attended, with more than 200 students from 16 counties competing at the annual two-day event sponsored by WCU, held at the Ramsey Regional Activity Center. Students in the elementary division, grades three through five, presented on Feb. 18 and older students, grades six through 12, presented on Feb. 19.
“We were extremely pleased with the large number of entries this year, but especially the quality of the projects," said Kefyn Catley, science fair director and WCU associate professor of biology.
"In particular there was an encouraging increase in the number of students investigating green-themed projects concerned with today’s very real issues of pollution and energy and water conservation.”
The first- and second-place students, as well as the eight elementary division winners, have the chance to compete at the 22nd Annual N.C. Science and Engineering Fair at Meredith College in Raleigh on March 27-28.
ELEMENTARY DIVISION (Grades 3-5)
First, Taylor Tipton, Mountain Community School, “Save that Water!” Second, Ian Crews, The Mountain Community School, “Xylem: The Plant Pipeline.” Third, Alexandra McNeely, TC Henderson Elementary, “Up, Up and a Down.” Honorable Mentions: Madeleine Hatch, Mountain Community School, “What Goes Up, Must Come Down; But How Fast?”; Evan Grant, Cullowhee Valley School, “What is the Effect of Blade Pitch on Wind Turbine Performance?"; Cade Brinkley, Rosman Elementary, “The Tale of William Tell”; Kohner Miller, Rosman Elementary, “Egg-ceptional Tooth Whiteners”; and Evan Cox, Blue Ridge Academy, “Mouthwash Effectiveness."
JUNIOR DIVISION (Grades 6-8)
Junior Biological Science-First, Brandy Wightman, Waynesville Middle School, "Help the Hemlocks." Second, Evan Deweese, Murphy Middle School, "Soaking Up Waves." Third, Eleanor Palmer, Mountain Community School, "They're Back - Tracking the Emergence of Seventeen-Year Cicadas." Honorable Mentions: Brandon Gee and Noah Tittle, Mountain Community School, "Auditory vs. Kinesthetic vs. Visual Memory"; Noelle Lee, Asheville Middle School, "The Effect of Temperature on the Gas Production of Yeast."
Junior Earth/Environmental Science-First, Sabrina Coulter, Waynesville Middle School, "Run Water Run." Second, Silas Crews, Mountain Community School, "Acid Precipitation at Different Elevations." Third, Jose Vera, Waynesville Middle School, "Toxic or Clean Water." Honorable mentions: Jon Miller, Ridgetop Academy, "Drinking Water?"; Meredith Tooley, Brevard Middle, "Soil Impediment."
Junior Physical Science-First, Jenna Silver, Glenwood Elementary, "Tee Time." Second, Brock Helton, East Rutherford Middle School, "Does the Flash Wear Heavy or Light Shoes." Third, Bryson Smith, East Rutherford Middle School, "Strength of Wood." Honorable Mentions: Emily Miller, Smokey Mountain Elementary, "Got Gas?"; Robbie Luther and Carson Chet, Mountain Community School, "Fuel of the Future."
Junior Technology/Engineering-First, Erik Myers, Fairview Elementary, "Hook, Line and Sinker." Second, Hunter Trombetta, Mountain Community School, "Solar Activity and the Ionosphere." Third, Daniel Taylor and Joshua Tourtellotte, Brevard Middle School, "Hydrogen vs. Fossil Fuel." Honorable Mentions: Duncan LeMay, Cullowhee Valley, "The Light in the Attic"; Aidan McKinney, Francine Delaney New School, "Will the Wind Speed in an Average Dowtown Corridor Exceed that of an Average Wind Turbine Area."
SENIOR DIVISION (Grades 9-12)
Senior Biological Science-Kathryn Wells, Hendersonville High, "Osmo-What?" Second, Mikaela Howell, Tuscola High, "Red Light/Green Light." Third, Caleb Oates, Hendersonville High, "Do X-Rays Affect Plant Growth?" Honorable Mention: Laura Cope, Tuscola High, "Teeth Stain;" Wesley Albrecht, Tuscola High, "Freezing Lady Bugs."
Senior Earth/Environmental Science-First, Sally Dixon, Tuscola, "Black Hole." Second, Cassie Ledford, Tuscola High, "Stain Test." Third, Maria Quintero, Tuscola High, "Crowded Beans."
Senior Physical Science-Donald Butler, Tuscola High, "Pop Bottles." Second, Jessica Luisi, Tuscola High, Reverse Micelle Synthesis. Third, Tyler Matthews, Hendersonville High, "Index of Refraction." Honorable Mentions: Lilly Rolfe, Hendersonville High, "Which Citrus Fruit Produces the Most Electricity?"; Karissa Stamey, Tuscola High, "I Spy."
Senior Technology/Engineering-First, Kyle Decker, Hendersonville High, "Paper Plane Dynamics." Second, Olivia Palmer, Hendersonville High, "Up, Up and Away." Third, Lauren Lankford, Tuscola High, "Golden Eagle." Honorable Mention: Joshua Fernandez, Tuscola High, "Wind Power;" Ernest Hill, Tuscola High, "The Stroop Effect."
Senior Team Project-First, John Burrows, Brooke Burrows, and Matt Travers; Brevard High, "Detection of Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis in Salamander Populations of Transylvania County."
In addition to the competition awards, several organizations present special awards for projects in a particular research area. Those are: the United States Air Force 14th Weather Squadron Award for outstanding work in the field of atmospheric science, Alexandra McNeely, TC Henderson Elementary, “Up, Up and a Down;” the Western Regional Science Fair Director's Award for the best project in organismal biology, Danica Sequoyah, Cherokee Elementary, "Science and Cherokee Culture;" the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute Award for outstanding work in the field of astronomy, Ella Hunt, Brevard Elementary, "Counting with the Stars;" the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Award for the best animal health project, John Burrows, Brooke Burrows, and Matt Travers, Brevard High, "Detection of Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis in Salamander Populations of Transylvania County;" the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) Award for high standards in technology and/or engineering, Kyle Decker, Hendersonville High, "Paper Plane Dynamics" and Olivia Palmer, Hendersonville High, "Up, Up and Away."
For more information about the WCU Western Regional Science Fair, contact Kefyn Catley at kcatley@wcu.edu.