All OHS research projects take first place at state science/engineering fair

Bremerton, WA – Seven inspiring students from the Odessa Science Department presented their independent science and engineering research on April 1, 2017 at the 60th Annual Washington State Science and Engineering Fair. For the first time in Odessa Science history, and among the hundreds of students attending, these student scientists earned first place in their respective categories, along with the following other top Washington state awards:

Elizabeth Larson: "Integrating Colors into Passwords to Improve Cyber Security."

- 1st place, Senior Division Award in category of Computer Sciences: Trophy, Ribbon.

- Washington State Science and Engineering Fair Top Finalist.

- Ohio Wesleyan University Science Scholarship: $20,000 Renewable, Certificate.

- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Scholarship: $2,500 Renewable, Certificate.

- Wolfram Exceptional Research Award: Analysis Software, Certificate.

Destiny and Arianna German (team): "Implementing LF-White Noise During Preparation and Assessment to Increase Memory Retention."

- 1st place, Senior Division Award in category of Behavioral Sciences: Trophy, Ribbon.

- Washington State Science and Engineering Fair Top Finalists.

- Ohio Wesleyan University Science Scholarship: $20,000 Renewable, Certificate.

- Wolfram Exceptional Research Award: Analysis Software, Certificate.

Cole Kissler: "Production of Bioethanol from Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Wheat Straw using Pulsed Electric Field Pretreatment."

- 1st place, Senior Division Award in category of Energy: Trophy, Ribbon.

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

- Universal Quality Control: Award for Excellence in Physical Sciences: Book, Certificate.

- U.S. Metric Association Award: Outstanding Research: Certificate.

Chance Messer: "Engineering a Sagebrush Harvester for the Production of Biofuel."

- 1st place, Senior Division Award in the Category of Engineering: Trophy, Ribbon.

Kiegan Wehr – "Improving Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Production Under Drought Stress using Symbiotic Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi."

- 1st place, Senior Division Award in the Category of Botanical Sciences: Trophy, Ribbon.

Colton Messer: "The Effect of the Port Size on Runtime of a Pulse Jet Engine."

- 1st place, Junior Division Award in the Category of Engineering: Trophy, Ribbon.

Unfortunately for the Odessa students, once a presenter has received a first-place award in any given category, he/she is then thrown into competition with all of the other first-place awardees regardless of category. In other words, Elizabeth Larson (first in Computer Science) was competing with Chance Messer (first in Engineering) and everyone else from Odessa, as well as all other first-place awardees at the fair. Out of all the first-place awardees, Elizabeth Larson, Destiny German and Arianna German were selected as Washington State Science and Engineering Fair top finalists. These students then vied for the overall gold, silver and bronze awards and the chance to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

Sponsored in part by Intel, ISEF hosts nearly 2,000 high school students from over 75 countries, regions or territories. This largest pre-college science competition is being held this year in Los Angeles, Calif. on May 13-19, 2017.

Although these outstanding young ladies were not selected for one of the top three grand awards, it was a huge honor to be selected as Washington state top finalists. As Cole Kissler was selected as the alternate at the Mid-Columbia Regional Science Fair, he now prepares to attend the Intel ISEF.