State STEM research results

Five students from Odessa High School’s science department, Advanced STEM Research Laboratory, presented their independent science and engineering research on April 2, 2016 at the 59th Annual Washington State Science and Engineering Fair held in Bremerton. Among hundreds of students attending, these young scientists earned the following top awards:

Stacia Lesser: “Mount St Helens Ash Used as a Temporal Marker for Radioactive Cesium-137 Fallout”

- First place, Senior Division Award in the Category of Environmental Sciences (Physical), receiving a trophy, ribbon and certificate.

- Invitation to present at the Genius Olympiad, Oswego, NY.

- Genius Olympiad Award, Expenses covered while in NY, certificate.

- Association for Women Geoscientists, Outstanding Project First-place Award, book, certificate.

- Association for Women Geoscientists Award for Excellence, certificate.

- WA NASA Space Grant Consortium, Outstanding Achievement Award, cash prize, certificate.

Chance Messer: “Engineering Flettner Rotors to Increase Propulsion”

- First place, Senior Division Award in the Category of Engineering, trophy, ribbon, certificate

- Invitation to present at the International Sustainable World Project Olympiad, Houston, TX

- ISWEEEP Award, expenses covered while in Texas, certificate.

- Yale Outstanding Engineering Award, medallion, certificate.

- Wolfram Exceptional Research Award, analysis software, certificate.

Kiegan Wehr: “The Effect of Grey Water on Plant Growth for the Conservation of Land, Water, and Cost”

- First place, Senior Division Award in the Category of Environmental Sciences (Biological), trophy, ribbon, certificate.

- Beluga Software Innovative Project Towards Humanity Award, cash prize, certificate

- American Meteorological Society Outstanding Achievement Award, medallion, certificate.

Elizabeth Larson – “Programming a Website to Purchase Online through a Smartphone”

- Second place, Senior Division Award in the Category of Computer Science, ribbon, certificate.

Johnathon Brightwell - “The Comparison of a Liquid Hydrogen Fueled Rocket to a Butane Fueled Rocket to Determine Efficiency”

- Second place, Senior Division Award in the Category of Physics, ribbon, certificate.

The ASR Laboratory researchers will now hone their research for two international events, while also preparing to submit their research for publication. Stacia Lesser was invited to present at the International Genius Olympiad in New York, while Chance Messer will attend the International Sustainable World in Energy, Engineering, and Environment Project Olympiad in Texas.

The Odessa Community has provided incredible support for ASR Laboratory student researchers. The research conducted there is aligned to the Washington State Science Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, and the Common Core Standards. Please feel free to follow these scientists on social media by searching for Odessa High School ASR Labs.