The 58th annual California State Science Fair was held on May 18-19, 2009 at the California Science Center; 965 participants from 374 schools in grades 6 through 12 throughout the State were in competition for awards totaling over $50,000. Students from Santa Cruz City Schools received the following awards:
Senior Division: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology; Second Place
Shamik Mascharak, Grade 10
Synthesis of Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles Conjugated with RGD Peptide for Detection of Invasive Human Breast Cancer
Advisor: Mrs. Nancy Serigstad
Santa Cruz High School
Junior Division: Chemistry; Fourth Place
Hailey C. Loehde-Woolard, Grade 6
Biodiesel: Transesterification of Soy and Corn Oils: Green Light for the Future
Advisor: Ms. Sherri Kilkenny
School: Mission Hill Middle School
Junior Division: Environmental Engineering
Third Place: Zoe J.F. Altenberg, Grade 8
Wastewater Purification using Evaporation and Capillary Action: Part 1
Advisor: Mr. Ted Altenberg
School: Mission Hill Junior High School, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
Honorable Mention: Asta E. Davidsdottir, Grade 8
Water Conservation: A Nanoscopic Film Approach
Advisor: Dr. David Deamer
School: Mission Hill Junior High School, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
Junior Division: Plant Biology
Honorable Mention: Monique C. Iuster, Grade 8
Befuddled Bean Seeds: The Effects of Gravity and Centrifugal Forces on the Gravitropism and Growth of Bean Seeds
Advisor: Ms. Sherri Kilkenny
School: Mission Hill Junior High School, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
Congratulation to our student scientists!
