Powell, Wehr, Kuch to attend March symposium in Seattle

This year Odessa High School senior Kira Powell and freshman Thorsen Wehr have been selected by Dr. Ray Myers and the Washington Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) to be delegates at the golden anniversary of the Washington JSHS, two of only 18 students selected to give oral presentations.

They were selected after preparing and submitting a written report in accordance with the symposium’s guidelines, and each will also deliver a concise oral presentation at the symposium. The top three oral presentation winners, as well as the top poster board presentation winner at the Washington State JSHS will be invited to present at the National JSHS, held this year in Bethesda, MD. Last year, Kira was the Grand Prize winner at this event, earning her both the National Award at San Diego, as well as her research opportunity in London, England and her visit to CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.

OHS junior Koralynne Kuch will also present her research in the form of a posterboard.

Every year, Washington students send in between 100 and 200 research papers with the primary aim of promoting original research experimentation in the sciences, engineering and mathematics at the high school level and of publicly recognizing students for outstanding achievement.

Each of the 48 regional symposia, as well as the national program, provide a forum for high school students to present the results of their original research in science, engineering and mathematics, psychology and the social sciences. Students participating in the symposium have opportunities to meet and exchange ideas, interact with practicing researchers and explore future academic and career opportunities.

Every year the Regional Symposium is held at Seattle Pacific University, this year on March 15 and 16, and the submitted papers are winnowed down to choose the final 18 presenters.