Click here to go directly to the list of Special Award winners
MCSF Awards
6th Grade – Combined Life/Physical Science Division
| Stanley Deng | What is the Best Method of Saltwater Filtration? | Leona Libby Middle School | Honorable Mention |
| William Fulsom | Salty Seas | Carmichael Middle School | Honorable Mention |
| Shelby Olsen | How Well Can Humans Differentiate Between Human-written and AI Generated Text? | Chief Joseph Middle School | Second Place |
| Ridhi Erla | Green Concrete: Making Concrete More Sustainable with Biorenewable Materials | Leona Libby Middle School | First Place |
7th Grade Physical Science Division
| Christopher Hernandez | Distillation Reactions | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | Honorable Mention |
| Lucas Reece | Thermite reaction experiment | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | Honorable Mention |
| Junie Horner | enzymes in saliva VS enzymes in stomach | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | Third Place |
| Ira Short | Plastic Power | Christ The King School | Third Place |
| George Nassaneh | Playing With Fire | Christ The King School | Second Place |
| Sophia Samaan | Wind Turbine Efficiency: How Does Shape and Angle of Wings Yield Maximum Power in Producing Green Hydrogen? | Christ The King School | First Place |
7th Grade Life Science Division
| Gillian Kipp | Effect of temperature on milk proteins | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | Honorable Mention |
| Chloe Osborne | Natural lights vs LED grow lights | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | Honorable Mention |
| Blake VanWingerden | The Effect of Filters on Acid Rain | Homeschool | Third Place |
| Elliot Venable | DNA onion extraction switching and taking | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | Third Place |
| Lexi Wall | Ice Ice Baby | Calvary Chapel Christian School | Third Place |
| Claire Chen | What Affects the Dissolution Rate of Lactase Pills? | Garrison Middle School | Second Place |
| Preston Irvine | most efficient cleaning spray | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | Second Place |
| Anvi Kulkarni | Do Car Care Chemicals Contaminate Groundwater? | Enterprise Middle School | First Place |
8th Grade Combined Life/Physical Science Division
| Andre Chin | Stabilizing the V-tail design in a jet aircraft | Leona Libby Middle School | Honorable Mention |
| Theodore Maier | Why Are You Driving So Fast? | Chief Joseph Middle School | Third Place |
| Chloe Custodio | Creating a Fish Trap Structure to Capture Microplastics | Leona Libby Middle School | Second Place |
| Samuel Wang | Sonic Fire Suppression: Multimodal Acoustic Frequency Modulation and Fire Dynamics Analysis | Enterprise Middle School | First Place |
9th Grade Division
| Kahlynn Downing | Can kitchen scrap compost mixed with leaves help increase plant growth? | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Katherine Mancia | How does the Type and Concentration of Antiseptic Affect its Ability to Reduce Bacterial Growth? | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Viraj Pilli | Smart Roof | Richland High School | Honorable Mention |
| Leonardo Campos | How do environmental factors affect the physiology of crickets? | Sunnyside High School | Third Place |
| Raman Harilal | Determination of laser induced chlorophyll fluorescence from spinach leaves | Richland High School | Third Place |
| Rishi Vijay | ChemSafe: Hazard Prevention at Your Fingertips | Hanford High School | Third Place |
| Akshath Motkuri | GlucoBone: An Early Detection Sensor System for Diabetes and Bone Disorders | Richland High School | Second Place |
| Rohan Nune | Bridging Health: Revealing the Connection Between Periodontal Disease and Diabetes | Richland High School | Second Place |
| Aarav Shrivastava | Applying Deep Learning for Wildfire Identification: Economical and Accessible Solutions Leveraging Small Datasets | Richland High School | First Place |
Senior Division (Grades 10-12)
| Amanda Avina Lopez | How does ash impact the growth of the Brassica Rapa (Wisconsin Fast Plant), and the Raphanus Sativus (Radish)? | Eisenhower High School | Honorable Mention |
| Aashrita Bhamidimarri | An AI Based Personalized Allergy Alert System | Hanford High School | Honorable Mention |
| Brianna Collyer | How will anticancer agents impact the in vitro germination of radish seeds and plant growth? | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Lily Deng | Comparing Efficiency of Energy Harvesting Techniques for Medical Pacemakers | Hanford High School | Honorable Mention |
| Briza Diaz Cuevas | How does Martian soil porosity and permeability compare to other common soils | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Emily Gallardo | How do soil restoration techniques (biochar, compost, and mulch) affect water retention, chemical composition, CO2, and erosion in wildfire damaged soil? | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Yahaira Gomez-RIvera | How Do Fruit Peels Affect The Chemistry of the Soil and Growth of Plants? | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Brisa Longoria-Sosa | Exploring the Effects of Xylem Filters on Water Filtration | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Elias Mejia | How Do Different Types of Sunscreen Affect Marine Life? | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Lynnet Ramos-Alcala | Can an oil-based ferrofluid be utilized to extract microplastics from aggregates effectively? | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Brianna Rios-Aguilar | How Potent Are Natural Antimicrobial Agents Compared to Synthetic Antimicrobial Alternatives At Inhibiting Bacterial Growth? | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Nicole Samaan | A Comparative Analysis of Classical and Quantum Computing Algorithms in Enhancing the Efficiency of Electric Grids of the Future | Hanford High School | Honorable Mention |
| Bethany Thornton | How does the voltage of battery used during electrical stimulation affect plant photosynthesis? | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Emily Trevino-Medina | Does the material on gym equipment influence bacterial growth? | Sunnyside High School | Honorable Mention |
| Angel Joshi | Navigating Glioblastoma through Computational Biology | Southridge High School | Third Place |
| Briseida Perez | Improving Dental X-ray sensor comfort | Eisenhower High School | Third Place |
| Claire Sheehan | Which Form of Biodegradable Hydrogels Synthesized from Food Waste Will Help Conserve Irrigation Water in the Farming Industry? | Sunnyside High School | Third Place |
| Gavin Montelongo | How do Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Natural Healing Agents Influence Wound Healing and Regeneration in Invertebrates? | Sunnyside High School | Second Place |
| Isabella Pinto | How a High-Temperature Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage System Can Be Implemented in Vehicles as an Exceptionally Eco-Friendly Power Supply | Hanford High School | Second Place |
| Prayrona Choudhury | AquaLink -Determining Freshwater Species Abundance Using the Multiscale Convergence of Chemical and Biological Processes | Hanford High School | First Place |
| Advaitha Motkuri | ASDetect: Detecting Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder Using AI-Based Facial Recognition Techniques | Richland High School | Grand Prize |
| Sonali Santhosh | Cracking the Seizure Code: A Deep Learning Approach to Neonatal Seizure Detection Utilizing Hybrid Architecture for Multi-Scale EEG Analysis | Hanford High School | Grand Prize |
| Sydney West | The Design and Engineering of an Intelligent Remotely Operated Vehicle for Coral Reef Research and Monitoring | Hanford High School | Grand Prize |
- Middle School Division 1st Place prize winners also receive a scholarship for a week-long residential STEM camp.
- The 9th Grade 1st Place prize winner receives an expenses-paid trip to attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) as an Observer.
- The Grand Prize winners receive an expenses-paid trip to compete at ISEF.
Special Awards
Project In A Box
“Project In A Box” is a program to introduce sixth grade classes to our science fair. MCSF supplied a box of materials for students to complete a class project around the theme of water filtration. Two class representatives presented the project to judges on fair day. We hope these students will bring individual projects to next year’s fair! We’d now like to recognize the classes who participated in this program. Each class receives a certificate, written comments, and “Project In A Box” ribbons for each student who participated. Projects chosen for an award will also receive a rosette and cash prize.
| Mr. Adam’s 1st Period Class | St. Joseph Marquette School | Order of filter material | Participation |
| Mr. Adam’s 2nd Period Class | St. Joseph Marquette School | Homemade vs. Store-bought water filter | Participation |
| Extra Mile Science Club | Grandview, WA | Which Material Filters Water Best? | Participation |
| Ms. Stark’s Community Group | Harrison Middle School & Pioneer Elementary School | Which homemade water filter works best? | Participation |
| Ms. Hampton’s 5th Period Class | Chief Joseph Middle School | What types of soils and sediments can create the most effective natural filter of acid rain? | Honorable Mention |
| Ms. Hampton’s 4th Period Class | Chief Joseph Middle School | Natural Filters to Reduce Turbidity Levels | Second Place |
| Ms. Kovis’s 6B Class | Christ the King School | Glass Beads For the Worlds Needs: Using Glass Beads to purify water | Second Place |
| Ms. Kovis’s 6A Class | Christ the King School | Filter Faceoff! Which Material works better for the bottom layer of a filter, cotton, cloth or coffee filter? | First Place |
Award of Distinction for CLARITY OF PRESENTATION
The final step of a project is often one of the most difficult. After you have selected a project, conducted your experiments, and collected the data, you must organize the information and make it easy for others to understand. This includes presenting the key elements of your project. Building an attractive, concise, and appealing presentation enhances our understanding of even complex topics. The following students are recognized for their achievement in CLARITY OF PRESENTATION:
Saul Alcantar, Ezaiah Alvarez, Lilly Antonissen, Reed Brennan, Owen Callaghan, Lily Deng, Kahlynn Downing, Liam Gutzler, Junie Horner, Marissa Isaacson, Anvi Kulkarni, Ethan Lopez, Sasha Maddon, Elias Mejia, Coralyn Mendonca, Jimena Mondragon, Morgan Mosey, George Nassaneh, Magdalena Nava Cuevas, Shelby Olsen, Sonali Santhosh, Aylin Sosa, Marlene Torres-Macias, Emily Trevino-Medina, Carlos Valdez
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a professional association for electronic engineering and electrical engineering (and associated disciplines). IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.
| Sophia Samaan | Wind Turbine Efficiency: How Does Shape and Angle of Wings Yield Maximum Power in Producing Green Hydrogen? | Christ the King School | IEEE Middle School Award |
| Siena Emhoff | How Temperature Affects Battery Performance | Eisenhower HS | IEEE High School Honorable Mention |
| Viraj Pilli | Smart Roof | Richland HS | IEEE 9th Grade Award |
| Isabella Pinto | How a High-Temperature Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage System Can Be Implemented in Vehicles as an Exceptionally Eco-Friendly Power Supply | Hanford HS | IEEE HS Award |
| Sonali Santhosh | Cracking the Seizure Code: A Deep Learning Approach to Neonatal Seizure Detection Utilizing Hybrid Architecture for Multi-Scale EEG Analysis | Hanford HS | IEEE HS Award |
| Sydney West | The Design and Engineering of an Intelligent Remotely Operated Vehicle for Coral Reef Research and Monitoring | Hanford HS | IEEE HS Award |
The Links, Incorporated
The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, and is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. This award is to honor African American participants for scientific excellence and ingenuity.
| Marissa Isaacson | Do Earthworms benefit growing plants? | Eisenhower High School |
| Zaid Munir | How do different fertilizer combinations impact Brassica rapa germination and growth? | Eisenhower High School |
American Chemical Society
Founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress, the American Chemical Society is one of the world’s largest scientific organizations with more than 155,000 members in 150 countries. ACS mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. The ACS vision is to improve people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry.
| Lexi Wall | Ice Ice Baby | Calvary Chapel Christian School | ACS-Middle School Chemistry Award |
| Rishi Vijay | ChemSafe: Hazard Prevention at Your Fingertips | Hanford High School | ACS-High School Chemistry Award |
American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), Columbia River Professional Chapter (CRPC)
Founded in 1977, the AISES is a non-profit organization whose goal is to substantially increase the representation of American Indian and Alaskan Natives in science, technology, engineering, math and other related disciplines. The CRPC, founded in 1991, supports these national goals, while working at the local and regional level. Winners of the AISES-CRPC award receive a cash award, certificate, and an annual AISES membership which includes the AISES quarterly magazine, “Winds of Change”.
| Richard Castro | Engineering Technology: Statics and Dynamics | Eisenhower High School | AISES Recognition |
| Yadira Garibay | What irrigation method is better at reducing water usage in agriculture?(drip,furrow, flooding, sprinkle) | Sunnyside High School | AISES Recognition |
| Mercedez Garza | How does lighting impact Artemia salina hatching? | Eisenhower High School | AISES Recognition |
| Sasha Maddon | How efficient are Ladybugs as pollinators of Brassica rapa? | Eisenhower High School | AISES Recognition |
| Khol Perryman | sea walls and waves | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | AISES Recognition |
| Lucas Reece | Thermite reaction experiment | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | AISES Recognition |
| Zagidh Ruelas | How do rural and urban populations affect water quality? | Sunnyside High School | AISES Recognition |
| Tevin Tomatich | Egg Drop | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | AISES Recognition |
| Berenice Vazquez-Merino | Does White Sugar Prevent pH Levels of Iron and Copper Corrosion? | Sunnyside High School | AISES Recognition |
| Chloe Custodio | Creating a Fish Trap Structure to Capture Microplastics | Leona Libby Middle School | AISES Distinguished Project |
| Ali Evans | Dissolvantage: Biodegradable Gossamer for Accelerated Oro-Dental Regeneration | Richland High School | AISES Distinguished Project |
| Emily Gallardo | How do soil restoration techniques (biochar, compost, and mulch) affect water retention, chemical composition, CO2, and erosion in wildfire damaged soil? | Sunnyside High School | AISES Distinguished Project |
Award of Distinction for CREATIVITY
Creativity is something that is required for all forms of science. An original idea brings together elements of science done in the past and the student’s unique idea. This often brings new understanding and rewards of its own. The unique and original application of scientific ideas is alive and well, as demonstrated by many students at this year’s fair. For their creative spark, the following students are recognized for CREATIVITY:
Sergio Acevedo, Aashrita Bhamidimarri, Emi Castro, Vronica Contreras, Sandra Delgado, Mabel Grayum, Csilla Gresh, Chevelle Melhorn, Mya Morales, Leona Naumann, Uriel Olmedo, Khol Perryman, Viraj Pilli, Zagidh Ruelas, Julianna Silva, Berenice Vazquez-Merino, Elliot Venable, Rishi Vijay, Joslin Zurita
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
The Society of Women Engineers takes a very active role in encouraging young women to investigate technical career paths. Best Female Science Project winners are:
| Csilla Gresh | The Difference Between Cookies Baked with Almond Flour and Flour | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | Middle School Honorable Mention |
| Ridhi Erla | Green Concrete: Making Concrete More Sustainable with Biorenewable Materials | Leona Libby Middle School | Middle School Honorable Mention |
| Chloe Custodio | Creating a Fish Trap Structure to Capture Microplastics | Leona Libby Middle School | Middle School Second Place |
| Sophia Samaan | Wind Turbine Efficiency: How Does Shape and Angle of Wings Yield Maximum Power in Producing Green Hydrogen? | Christ the King School | Middle School First Place |
| Kahlynn Downing | Can kitchen scrap compost mixed with leaves help increase plant growth? | Sunnyside High School | 9th grade Honorable Mention |
| Katherine Mancia | How does the Type and Concentration of Antiseptic Affect its Ability to Reduce Bacterial Growth? | Sunnyside High School | 9th Grade First Place |
| Ileene Solorzano-Lopez | Crickets and odor guided behavior | Sunnyside High School | 10th grade honorable mention |
| Brianna Rios-Aguilar | How Potent Are Natural Antimicrobial Agents Compared to Synthetic Antimicrobial Alternatives At Inhibiting Bacterial Growth? | Sunnyside High School | 10th GradeFirst Place |
| Bethany Thornton | How does the voltage of battery used during electrical stimulation affect plant photosynthesis? | Sunnyside High School | 11th Grade Honorable Mention |
| Lily Deng | Comparing Efficiency of Energy Harvesting Techniques for Medical Pacemakers | Hanford High School | 11th Grade First Place |
| Briseida Perez | Improving Dental X-ray sensor comfort | Eisenhower High School | 12th Grade Honorable Mention |
| Claire Sheehan | Which Form of Biodegradable Hydrogels Synthesized from Food Waste Will Help Conserve Irrigation Water in the Farming Industry? | Sunnyside High School | 12th Grade First Place |
Award of Distinction for DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Data is the foundation of all science. The collection, control, and interpretation of large amounts of information are very important and time-consuming tasks. Once this mountain of information is finally put into place, the researcher must ask: “What does it all mean?” This is determined through the successful use of graphs, charts, pictures, tables, and related visualizations. The following students are recognized for their successful acquisition and compilation of data:
Aliya Andrade, Amanda Avina Lopez, Coco Balick, High Carmichael, Prayrona Choudhury, Ridhi Erla, William Fulsom, Yahaira Gomez-Rivera, Raman Harilal, Theodore Maier, Velani Martinez, Isabella Pinto, Valeria Santana, Ira Short, Samuel Wang
ANS, Eastern Washington Section
The American Nuclear Society, Eastern Washington Section is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society. This year’s ANS-EWS Bright Future Award winner is:
| Samuel Wang | Sonic Fire Suppression: Multimodal Acoustic Frequency Modulation and Fire Dynamics Analysis | Enterprise Middle School | ANS-EWS Bright Future Award |
Sigma Xi, Tri-Cities Chapter
Sigma Xi, Tri-Cities Chapter provides awards for the projects that demonstrate the best use of the Scientific Method.
| Eymi Rodriguez | Upcycling of paper products into plantable seed paper | Eisenhower High School | Best Use of the Scientific Method |
| Aylin Sosa | Does composition affect the speed of light in gelatin? | Sunnyside High School | Best Use of the Scientific Method |
U.S. Metric Association
The U.S. Metric Association provides one award for the Best use of SI, the International System of Units, in a science fair project. This year’s winner is:
| Isabella Pinto | How a High-Temperature Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage System Can Be Implemented in Vehicles as an Exceptionally Eco-Friendly Power Supply | Hanford High School | Best use of SI, The International System of Units, in a Science Fair Project |
SEAW, South Central Chapter
Established in 1995 by a small but diligent group of Central Washington engineers, South Central Chapter’s members hail from a wide geographic area which includes Wenatchee, Yakima, Sunnyside, Tri-Cities, and Walla Walla. This year’s winners of the SEAW Structural Spotlight Award are:
| Ridhi Erla | Green Concrete: Making Concrete More Sustainable with Biorenewable Materials | Leona Libby Middle School | SEAW Structural Spotlight Award |
| Ira Short | Plastic Power | Christ the King | SEAW Structural Spotlight Award |
Computer Science:
In presenting this award, our judges hope to encourage increased participation in computer science, one of today’s fastest growing fields, and an important source of innovation for the 21st century. The winner of the Computer Science Award will receive an Award certificate and a monetary award.
| Sydney West | The Design and Engineering of an Intelligent Remotely Operated Vehicle for Coral Reef Research and Monitoring | Hanford High School | Outstanding Achievement in the category of Computer Science |
NASA Earth System Science Award
Earth system science is the study of the complex system and the interconnections that occur on Earth. The Earth’s spheres interact in complex ways. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth System Science Project Award goes to the student whose project best demonstrates Insight into Earth’s Interconnected Systems. This year’s winner is:
| Prayrona Choudhury | AquaLink -Determining Freshwater Species Abundance Using the Multiscale Convergence of Chemical and Biological Processes | Hanford High School | NASA Earth System Science Project Award |
Ricoh Corporation
Ricoh Corporation presents the Ricoh Sustainable Development Award presented to the student whose research has demonstrated the Principles and Technical Innovations that offer the greatest potential for Sustainable Development. This year’s winner is:
| Isabella Pinto | How a High-Temperature Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage System Can Be Implemented in Vehicles as an Exceptionally Eco-Friendly Power Supply | Hanford High School | Ricoh Sustainable Development Award |
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID):
The United States Agency for International Development provided the Science Champion Award for scientific excellence and using science innovatively to create a potential solution to international development challenges. This year’s winner is:
| Sonali Santhosh | Cracking the Seizure Code: A Deep Learning Approach to Neonatal Seizure Detection Utilizing Hybrid Architecture for Multi-Scale EEG Analysis | Hanford High School | Science Champion Award |
Award of Distinction for ENGINEERING
Engineers combine the elements of research, experimentation, and data collection Engineers translate these into hardware or processes. The design, production, and operation of a project can be a true example of scientific engineering, not only in the physical sense but also organizationally. We recognize the following students for their achievement in ENGINEERING:
Hudson Brandenburg, Richard Castro, Julian Mendoza, Sydney West
STEM Enthusiast
The STEM Enthusiast awards recognize projects that best demonstrate students’ creativity and innovation in exploring the world around them. Winners receive a certificate and gift card.
| Sergio Acevedo | How do simulated team sports affect grass growth? | Sunnyside High School | STEM Enthusiast |
| Lilly Antonissen | Snakes and their genetics color morphs! | Leona Libby Middle School | STEM Enthusiast |
| Owen Callaghan | The Science of Parachutes | Christ the King | STEM Enthusiast |
| Leniah Mirelez | Engineering a Homeless Shelter | Eisenhower High School | STEM Enthusiast |
Rosalind Franklin Award
This award is given in honor of Rosalind Franklin, “the scientist whose work was crucial in solving the structure of DNA but did not receive the Nobel Prize.” The Rosalind Franklin Award is sponsored by Dr. Rama Devagupta, who holds a PhD in Bioorganic Chemistry from Texas A&M University. As a sponsor of the Rosalind Franklin Award, Rama seeks to promote budding young scientists who perform research without access to traditional lab equipment or facilities. This year’s winners are:
| Lily Deng | Comparing Efficiency of Energy Harvesting Techniques for Medical Pacemakers | Hanford High School | Rosalind Franklin Award |
| Emily Gallardo | How do soil restoration techniques (biochar, compost, and mulch) affect water retention, chemical composition, CO2, and erosion in wildfire damaged soil? | Sunnyside High School | Rosalind Franklin Award |
| Brisa Longoria-Sosa | Exploring the Effects of Xylem Filters on Water Filtration | Sunnyside High School | Rosalind Franklin Award |
| Gavin Montelongo | How do Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Natural Healing Agents Influence Wound Healing and Regeneration in Invertebrates? | Sunnyside High School | Rosalind Franklin Award |
Inspiring Excellence, Inc
Inspiring Excellence, Inc. supports science fair students with awards for demonstrating excellence. Excellence is displayed by the following traits: interest, desire, enthusiasm, perseverance, diligence, scholarship, and a positive attitude. The following students are recognized for excellence in their chosen project:
| Aashrita Bhamidimarri | An AI Based Personalized Allergy Alert System | Hanford High School | Student Award |
| Andre Chin | Stabilizing the V-tail design in a jet aircraft | Leona Libby Middle School | Student Award |
| Brianna Collyer | How will anticancer agents impact the in vitro germination of radish seeds and plant growth? | Sunnyside High School | Student Award |
| Yahaira Gomez-Rivera | How Do Fruit Peels Affect The Chemistry of the Soil and Growth of Plants? | Sunnyside High School | Student Award |
| Elias Mejia | How Do Different Types of Sunscreen Affect Marine Life? | Sunnyside High School | Student Award |
| Emily Trevino-Medina | Which method is more effective as a sunblock for plants? | Sunnyside High School | Student Award |
| Brittany Hampton | Chief Joseph Middle School | Inspiring Excellence Teacher Award |
Award of Distinction for EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Having a unique and original scientific idea is only half the battle. Designing experiments that will give meaningful results and that will further the understanding of a topic can take up most of the time spent on a project. The concept of “test, test, and re-test” often becomes paramount in ensuring that an experiment will produce a valid examination of a hypothesis. The following students are recognized for their excellence in EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:
Sofia Bohannan, Jack Bower, Andre Chin, Jordan Condie, Stanley Deng, Yadira Garibay, Mercedez Garza, Finnbarr Humling, Angel Joshi, Advaitha Motkuri, Briseida Perez, Emily Ramirez, Brianna Rios-Aguilar, Claire Sheehan, Ileene Solorzano-Lopez, Blake VanWingerden, Lexi Wall
Special Awards: Department of the Air Force
The Department of the Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory, awards include an over the shoulder sling pack, Power Bank charger, dog tag USB Flash Memory Drive, a dual USB Car Charger, and official Air Force Certificate. The winners are:
| Nicole Samaan | A Comparative Analysis of Classical and Quantum Computing Algorithms in Enhancing the Efficiency of Electric Grids of the Future | Hanford High School | United States Air Force Certificate of Achievement |
| Sonali Santhosh | Cracking the Seizure Code: A Deep Learning Approach to Neonatal Seizure Detection Utilizing Hybrid Architecture for Multi-Scale EEG Analysis | Hanford High School | United States Air Force Certificate of Achievement |
| Samuel Wang | Sonic Fire Suppression: Multimodal Acoustic Frequency Modulation and Fire Dynamics Analysis | Enterprise Middle School | United States Air Force Certificate of Achievement |
| Sydney West | The Design and Engineering of an Intelligent Remotely Operated Vehicle for Coral Reef Research and Monitoring | Hanford High School | United States Air Force Certificate of Achievement |
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a not-for-profit membership organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, career enrichment, and skills development across all engineering disciplines. Founded in 1889 by a small group of leading industries, ASME has grown through the decades to include more than 120,000 members in over 140 countries around the globe. Winners of the ASME awards are:
| Viraj Pilli | Smart Roof | Richland High School | Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Award |
| Lynnet Ramos-Alcala | Can an oil-based ferrofluid be utilized to extract microplastics from aggregates effectively? | Sunnyside High School | Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Award |
| Aarav Shrivastava | Applying Deep Learning for Wildfire Identification: Economical and Accessible Solutions Leveraging Small Datasets | Richland High School | Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Award |
| Samuel Wang | Sonic Fire Suppression: Multimodal Acoustic Frequency Modulation and Fire Dynamics Analysis | Enterprise Middle School | Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Award |
YALE
Yale Science and Engineering Association, Inc. provides an award for Most Outstanding Exhibit in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The award is intended for 11th grade projects. This year’s winner is:
| Lily Deng | Comparing Efficiency of Energy Harvesting Techniques for Medical Pacemakers | Hanford High School | Most Outstanding Exhibit in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. |
Columbia Chapter of the Health Physics Society
The Columbia Chapter of the Health Physics Society is a professional organization whose members are specialists in radiation safety. These Health Physicists are dedicated to maximizing the beneficial use of radiation while minimizing the risk to people and the environment. This year’s winners from the CCHPS are:
| Blu Asia | how can we build a satellite | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High School | Best Middle School Physics Project |
| Raman Harilal | Determination of laser induced chlorophyll fluorescence from spinach leaves | Richland High School | Best High School Physics Project |
INMM
We are the Institute of Nuclear Material Management, Pacific Northwest Chapter. Our official slogan states, “We are dedicated to the safe, secure and effective stewardship of nuclear materials and related technologies through the advancement of scientific knowledge, technical skills, policy dialogue, professional capabilities, and best practices.” How does Spiderman state it? “…with great power comes great responsibility…” Well that’s what we’re all about. We have to do it right, and the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management is all about doing nuclear the right way. With that in mind, we want to award a project that not only does great science, but ensures it’s done the right way – with safety, security, and environmental stewardship in mind from start to finish.
| Sophia Samaan | Wind Turbine Efficiency: How Does Shape and Angle of Wings Yield Maximum Power in Producing Green Hydrogen? | Christ the King School | Special Award for Innovation in Renewable and Clean Energy |
Award of Distinction for HONESTY
In any scientific experiment there can be unexpected results. However, even with undesired results, new inspiration may be found. Others may be able to build on the results, and we may gain a better understanding of the topic. We may even find a new avenue to explore. Looking at all data as important, and presenting the findings regardless of the anticipated results, is an important aspect of scientific work. The following students are recognized for their HONESTY in presentation:
Blu Asia, Josue Gonzalez, Alex Hernandez, Emily Holtzinger, Joanna Lopez, Cane McCarthy, Chloe Osborne, Gabriel Ramirez, Sophia Samaan, Dharan Sentfil, Alexa Teodoro, Gunnar Wild, Ivan Yebras
MCBONES
The Mid-Columbia Basin Old Natural Education Sciences (MCBONES) Research Center Foundation provides local K-12 teachers and their students an opportunity to actively participate in laboratory and field-based research in paleontology, geology, paleoecology within the Kennewick Washington area. The MCBONES award is for spending a six-hour day at the Coyote Canyon Mammoth Dig. The award winner will shadow a crew of paleontologists, participating in dig support, dig management, recordkeeping, sediment washing, possibly assembling bones, and micro-photography. There will also be an opportunity to do a project of their choice at the site. This year’s MCBONES winner is
| Sydney West | The Design and Engineering of an Intelligent Remotely Operated Vehicle for Coral Reef Research and Monitoring | Hanford High School | MCBONES Dig |
Association of Women Geoscientists
The Association for Women Geoscientists award is presented to the female student whose project exemplifies high standards of innovativeness and scientific excellence in the geosciences. This year’s winner is:
| Emily Gallardo | How do soil restoration techniques (biochar, compost, and mulch) affect water retention, chemical composition, CO2, and erosion in wildfire damaged soil? | Sunnyside High School | Outstanding Project |
Tri-Cities Food Co-Op Special Award in Agriculture
The Tri-Cities Food Co-op does research related to asparagus and blueberries and other agriculture topics. The award will include a tour of the research farm, Agriculture Development Group, Inc. in Eltopia, WA. The tour will be in the summer. This year’s winner is:
| Benjamin Cooper | Analyzing Green Onions’ Growth With Different pH Levels | Leona Libby Middle School | Tri-Cities Food Co-op Special Award in agriculture |
| Claire Sheehan | Which Form of Biodegradable Hydrogels Synthesized from Food Waste Will Help Conserve Irrigation Water in the Farming Industry? | Sunnyside High School | Tri-Cities Food Co-op Special Award in agriculture |
Agriculture Awards:
Agriculture is an important industry in the Mid-Columbia region. The following projects involving plant science were awarded:
| Kahlynn Downing | Can kitchen scrap compost mixed with leaves help increase plant growth? | Sunnyside High School | Distinguished Project |
| Velani Martinez | How do LED – lights affect the photosynthesis of grass and radishes? | Sunnyside High School | Distinguished Project |
| Jimena Mondragon | Can fruit extracts from field waste be used to create a low-cost biofertilizer? | Sunnyside High School | Distinguished Project |
| Bethany Thornton | How does the voltage of battery used during electrical stimulation affect plant photosynthesis? | Sunnyside High School | Distinguished Project |
NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provided NOAA’s 2025 “Taking the Pulse of the Planet” award. This award is presented to the student whose research has demonstrated the principles and technical innovations that offer the greatest potential for an improved understanding of the Earth’s dynamic processes. This year’s winner is:
| Prayrona Choudhury | AquaLink -Determining Freshwater Species Abundance Using the Multiscale Convergence of Chemical and Biological Processes | Hanford High School | Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award |
Award of Distinction for NOVELTY
Sometimes, it is surprising how things we take for granted are often taken out of context and applied in new and unique ways. Using old ideas with a twist to create new thoughts is very important in science. Scientists who challenge “the system” by introducing an innovative approach are often labeled as rebels – and where would we be without them! For their innovative and unique interpretation of scientific knowledge, the following students are recognized:
Armelle Bonneville, Leonardo Campos, Briza Diaz Cuevas, Ali Evans, Laura Gonzalez-Sanchez, Luanna Huang, Gillian Kipp, Brisa Longoria-Sosa, Joselyn Mejia, Leniah Mirelez, Gavin Montelongo, Lila Rice, Aarav Shrivastava, Tevin Tomatich
Society for In vitro Biology (SIVB)
The Society for In Vitro Biology provided an award for the most outstanding 11thgrade project exhibiting in the areas of plant or animal in vitro biology or tissue culture. This year’s winner is:
| Bethany Thornton | How does the voltage of battery used during electrical stimulation affect plant photosynthesis? | Sunnyside High School | Outstanding Achievement for Ability and Creativity in In Vitro Biology |
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association has provided an award for outstanding research in psychological science under the category of behavioral and social sciences or any category related to psychology. The award includes the APA certificate with a complementary one-year student affiliate membership in APA. This year’s winner is:
| Advaitha Motkuri | ASDetect: Detecting Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder Using AI-Based Facial Recognition Techniques | Richland High School | Achievement in Research in Psychological Science |
Regeneron Biomedical Science Award
Regeneron Biomedical Science Award is presented to an exceptional student scientist who not only demonstrates an impressive command of biomedical science and research but also embodies Regeneron’s core values, known The Regeneron Way. These include Lead with Science, Take on Big Ideas, Make it Happen, Be Great Together, and Do What’s Right. The award includes a certificate and a $375.00 prize.
This year’s winner is:
| Gavin Montelongo | How do Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Natural Healing Agents Influence Wound Healing and Regeneration in Invertebrates? | Sunnyside High School | Regeneron Biomedical Sciences Award |
Dr. Harlan Halma Awards
The Dr. Harlan Halma Awards go to medical related projects. The award includes a certificate and a cash prize. This year’s winners are:
| Aliya Andrade | Do medicinal herbs have antibiotic properties? | Sunnyside High School | Outstanding Health Project |
| Lily Deng | Comparing Efficiency of Energy Harvesting Techniques for Medical Pacemakers | Hanford High School | Outstanding Health Project |
| Briseida Perez | Improving Dental X-ray sensor comfort | Eisenhower High School | Outstanding Health Project |
| Brianna Rios-Aguilar | How Potent Are Natural Antimicrobial Agents Compared to Synthetic Antimicrobial Alternatives At Inhibiting Bacterial Growth? | Sunnyside High School | Outstanding Health Project |
| Valeria Santana | How does microwaving food affect their nutrients? | Sunnyside High School | Outstanding Health Project |
Award of Distinction for PERSEVERANCE
For most of us, life’s little setbacks are mostly an annoyance. For young scientists, months of hard work can disappear when their plants die, the crickets run away, or the home-built instrument doesn’t work. In the face of these obstacles, many of our students just looked adversity in the face, laughed, and continued despite the setbacks. The judges would like to recognize the following students for their superior PERSEVERANCE:
Bryce Gilbert, Christoper Hernandez, Preston Irvine, Vivian Navarro, Rohan Nune, Lucas Reece, Jimena Reyna Cuevas, Kylieann Rhoads, Mia Ruiz-Lara, Soren Vintin
USING STEM to Make the World a Better Place
| Samuel Wang | Sonic Fire Suppression: Multimodal Acoustic Frequency Modulation and Fire Dynamics Analysis | Enterprise Middle School | 3rd Place Junior Division |
| Sophia Samaan | Wind Turbine Efficiency: How Does Shape and Angle of Wings Yield Maximum Power in Producing Green Hydrogen? | Christ the King School | 2nd Place Junior Division |
| Ridhi Erla | Green Concrete: Making Concrete More Sustainable with Biorenewable Materials | Leona Libby Middle School | 1st Place Junior Division |
| Sonali Santhosh | Cracking the Seizure Code: A Deep Learning Approach to Neonatal Seizure Detection Utilizing Hybrid Architecture for Multi-Scale EEG Analysis | Hanford High School | 2nd Place Senior Division |
| Lynnet Ramos-Alcala | Can an oil-based ferrofluid be utilized to extract microplastics from aggregates effectively? | Sunnyside High School | 1st Place Senior Division |
| Aimee Kovis | 6A Class Project In A Box Project | Christ the King School | Special Award – Teacher |
| Aimee Kovis | 6B Class Project In A Box Project | Christ the King School | Special Award – Teacher |
The Lemelson Early Inventor Prize:
For the development of an outstanding invention exhibited at a Society for Science-Affiliated Science and Engineering Fair. The prize includes a $100 award for a 6th – 8th grade inventor. The deadline for the submission process for payment of the award is June 30, 2025. This year’s winner is:
| Chloe Custodio | Creating a Fish Trap Structure to Capture Microplastics | Leona Libby Middle School | outstanding invention |
Award of Distinction for SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT
In the pursuit of science, there are certain paths or methods that are taken to ensure proper scientific investigation. This includes rules for: concept formation, conduct of observations, experimentation, and validation of hypotheses. Gathering all aspects of a project, understanding the scope and being able to relate the concepts to the casual observer is quite a challenge. The following students have taken the scientific method and applied it to all aspects of their project, and are recognized for excellence in SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT:
Declan Acosta Smith, Dayanara Bracamontes, Madelynn-Oliva Budrow, Claire Chen, Brianna Collyer, Benjamin Cooper, Siena Emhoff, Emily Gallardo, Katherine Mancia, Akshath Motkuri, Lynnet Ramos-Alcala, Eymi Rodriguez, Nicole Samaan, Zahra Somerville-Borowski, Alexas Susterich
Water Environment Federation (WEF) and Xylem, Inc.
The Stockholm Junior Water Prize Regional Award of Excellence for a water related science research project goes to winning projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life through improvement of water quality, water resource management, or water and wastewater treatment. All high school students in 9th-12th grades, at least 15 years old by August 1st, 2025, who have conducted water related science projects have the opportunity to enter their State Stockholm Junior Water Prize Competition. Students must enter the 2025 Stockholm Junior Water Prize State Competition on-line by April 15, 2025.
| Prayrona Choudhury | AquaLink -Determining Freshwater Species Abundance Using the Multiscale Convergence of Chemical and Biological Processes | Hanford High School | Stockholm Junior Regional Water Prize Award of Excellence for a water-related science research project. |
| Lynnet Ramos-Alcala | Can an oil-based ferrofluid be utilized to extract microplastics from aggregates effectively? | Sunnyside High School | Stockholm Junior Regional Water Prize Award of Excellence for a water-related science research project. |
| Zagidh Ruelas | How do rural and urban populations affect water quality? | Sunnyside High School | Stockholm Junior Regional Water Prize Award of Excellence for a water-related science research project. |
GENIUS Olympiad
The Rochester Institute of Technology and Terra Science and Education sponsor the Global Environmental Issues (GENIUS) Olympiad to honor projects that display excellent work about the environment. The Exceptional Genius Olympiad Award grants the student participation in the GENIUS Olympiad to be held on the RIT campus in Rochester NY June 9-13, 2025. The Dr. Richard S. Stark Memorial Scholarship ($500 for each of the winners) will pay for the student’s application and participation fee. Winners of the Exceptional Genius Award are:
| Briza Diaz Cuevas | How does Martian soil porosity and permeability compare to other common soils | Sunnyside High School | Exceptional Genius Award |
| Lynnet Ramos-Alcala | Can an oil-based ferrofluid be utilized to extract microplastics from aggregates effectively? | Sunnyside High School | Exceptional Genius Award |
| Aarav Shrivastava | Applying Deep Learning for Wildfire Identification: Economical and Accessible Solutions Leveraging Small Datasets | Richland High School | Exceptional Genius Award (Alternate) |
Washington State Science and Engineering Fair
All students who participate in the Mid-Columbia Science and Engineering Fair are eligible to compete in person at the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair (WSSEF) in Bremerton, WA. The 2025 WSSEF will be March 28 (for grades 1-8) and March 29 (for grades 9-12). WSSEF provides one award for Outstanding Research Based Project Achievement. The award recipient receives a complimentary registration fee and T-shirt.
| Akshath Motkuri | GlucoBone: An Early Detection Sensor System for Diabetes and Bone Disorders | Richland High School | Outstanding research based project achievement award |
Award of Distinction for THOROUGHNESS
Most ideas can be applied, presented and interpreted in a thousand different ways. A scientist must examine a particular idea from many sides to gain a full understanding of it. A thorough investigation of how different variables come together and interact is sometimes one of the great educators about a particular scientific idea. For exhaustively applying their knowledge of interactions and ideas, the following students are recognized for excellence in THOROUGHNESS:
Tamara Cabrera Nava, Yasmin Ceja Fajardo, Chloe Custodio, Norah Lewis, Zaid Munir, Liliana Munoz, Summer Tate, Bethany Thornton
Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge Nominees
Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC) is the nation’s premier STEM research competition for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. The top 10% of 6th-8th grade students at our fair are now nominated to participate in the Thermo Fisher JIC. These nominees are eligible to register to complete nationally for valuable prizes and awards, including a trip to Washington DC for students chosen as national finalists. Nominees should see their award packet for registration deadlines. All nominees who complete the 2025 online application will receive a t-shirt and other prizes. This year’s MCSF nominees are:
Ridhi Erla, Preston Irvine, Anvi Kulkarni, George Nassaneh, Sophia Samaan, Samual Wang
| Ridhi Erla | Green Concrete: Making Concrete More Sustainable with Biorenewable Materials | Leona Libby Middle School |
| Preston Irvine | most efficient cleaning spray | Liberty Bell Jr-Sr High |
| Anvi Kulkarni | Do Car Care Chemicals Contaminate Groundwater? | Enterprise Middle School |
| George Nassaneh | Playing With Fire | Christ the King School |
| Sophia Samaan | Wind Turbine Efficiency: How Does Shape and Angle of Wings Yield Maximum Power in Producing Green Hydrogen? | Christ the King School |
| Samuel Wang | Sonic Fire Suppression: Multimodal Acoustic Frequency Modulation and Fire Dynamics Analysis | Enterprise Middle School |