Utica College Regional Science Fair Winners Announced; RFA Sophomore Takes Top Prize
The 42nd annual Utica College Regional Science fair was held virtually March 27, and the winners have been announced.
The middle and high school students shared their ideas and research, competing for a number of prizes.
Taking home the grand champion prize at the senior level was Dennis Van Hoesel, a 10th grader from RFA, with his project “Aw, Snap: Testing Wood Laminates.” He hypothesized that a wood laminate beam would be able to bear a stronger load than a solid wood beam. For his accomplishments, Van Hoesel will receive a two-year half tuition scholarship to Utica College, the Norman P. Bernstein trophy, a certificate honoring his success, and an invitation to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
Runner-up grand champion at the senior level was Isla McCullough with “Insulation Installation.” McCullough will receive a one-year half tuition scholarship to Utica College, a trophy, and a certificate. The junior grand champ winner was Lily Martin with “The Effect of Acid Rain on Plants.” Lily will receive a $500 tuition scholarship to Utica College for one year, a Sally Lachut Majka '61 and Donald Majka Trophy, and a certificate.
The annual science fair allows students from around the region to showcase their ideas and projects in three main categories: physical science, natural science, and mathematics, engineering and computer science. This year's fair hosted eight different schools with a total of 48 students ranging from grades 7-12.
The rest of the winners in each category, as well as special awards can be found below:
Senior Division - Physical Science
1st - Dennis Van Hoesel - Aw, Snap: Testing Wood Laminates
2nd - Sven Van Hoesel - "C"-ing is Believing: Testing Vitamin C in Orange Juice"
3rd - Forest Martin - How Much Fat is in your Food?
4th - Harun Shaik - Yeast and Cellular Respiration
Senior Division - Natural Science
1st - Jason Rivera - Do We Grow Out of Bias? Age-Related Differences in Out-Group Punishment
2nd - Louis Misiaszek - Vehicle Emissions and Ocean Water Acidification
3rd - Gavin Krauciunas - To the Moon in a Flash!
4th - Miranda Catanzaro - Natural Strawberry Preservation
Senior Division - Math, Computer, and Engineering
1st - Isla McCullough - Insulation Installation
2nd - Seth Walther - Electrify your French Fry
3rd - Quintin Weigand - Negative Effects of Materials on Wi-Fi Remastered
4th - Benjamin Deragon - Does a Spoiler Actually Benefit a Car?
Junior Division - Physical Science
1st - Ella Staskoski - Homemade Ice Packs
2nd - Jaden Jordan - Which Water Source has the Most and Least Amount of Unwanted Additives?
3rd - Liana Vauruk - Cloud in a Bottle
4th - Ean Piaschyk - How Does Weight Affect How Fast and Well I Ski?
Junior Division - Natural Science
1st - Lily Martin - The Effect of Acid Rain on Plants
2nd - Karl Van Hoesel - The Truth about Whitening Toothpastes
3rd - Makayla Wilcox - How Does Music Affect Cats and Dogs?
4th - Elizabeth Bashant - Does Caffeine Affect Purple Bean Plant Growth?
Junior Division - Math, Computer, and Engineering
1st - Eli Davis - The Breaking Point
2nd - Gideon Keawpinna and Hamza Zukanovic - Ac vs Dc Current
Special Awards
Eli Davis - AFCEA Awards Supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory-Junior Level 1st Place
Abdullah Shaik - AFCEA Awards Supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory-Junior Level 2nd Place
Gavin Krauciunas - AFCEA Awards Supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory-Senior Level 1st Place
Harun Shaik - AFCEA Awards Supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory-Senior Level 2nd Place
Benjamin Deragon - AFCEA Awards Supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory-Senior Level 3rd Place
Louis Misiaszek - American Meteorological Society-Senior or Junior Level
Jason Rivera - American Psychological Association Award-Senior or Junior Level
Noah Lamphere - Asa Gray Biological Society Award - Junior Level
Louis Misiaszek - Asa Gray Biological Society Award - Senior Level
Dennis Van Hoesel - ASM Materials Education Foundation-Senior or Junior Level
Maddison Haver - Association for Women Geoscientists Award-Senior or Junior Level
Abdullah Shaik - Doc Aaronson Award - Junior Level
Emma Taylor - Doc Aaronson Award - Senior Level
Emma Taylor - Doris Miga Award - Junior Level
Jason Rivera - Doris Miga Award - Senior Level
Isla McCullough - Dr. Rhea Jezer Energy21 Student Scholar Prize- Senior Level
Dennis Van Hoesel - Mu Alpha Theta Award-Senior Level
Maddison Haver - NASA Earth System Science Award-Senior or Junior Level
Isla McCullough - NOAA’s Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award-Senior or Junior Level
Hamza Zukanovic - Norman P. Bernstein Award - Junior Level
Gideon Keawpinna - Norman P. Bernstein Award - Junior Level
Seth Walther Norman - P. Bernstein Award - Senior Level
Abdullah Shaik - Office of Naval Research Science Award - Junior Level NO TEAMS
Isla McCullough - Office of Naval Research Science Award - Senior Level
Julia Oczkowski - Oneida Research Services Inc. Award - Junior Level
Forest Martin - Oneida Research Services Inc. Award - Senior Level
Maddison Haver - Pratt and Whitney Metals, Inc. - Junior Level
Isla McCullough - Pratt and Whitney Metals, Inc. - Senior Level
Isla McCullough - RICOH Sustainable Development Award
Harun Shaik - Society for In Vitro Biology Award - Senior Level
Emma Taylor - Stockholm Junior Water Prize - Senior Level
Jack Hoffman - The “Doc” Aaronson Award in Biology - Junior Level
Harun Shaik - The “Doc” Aaronson Award in Biology - Senior Level
Karl Van Hoesel - The Adam and Bertha Lachut Award - Junior Level
Jason Rivera - The Adam and Bertha Lachut Award - Senior Level
Emily Smith - The Copernicus Award - Junior Level
Louis Misiaszek - The Copernicus Award - Senior Level
Karl Van Hoesel - The Madame Curie Award - Junior Level
Isla McCullough - The Madame Curie Award - Senior Level
Maddison Haver - The Sally Lachut Majka '61 and Donald Majka Award in Earth Science or Conservation - Junior Level
Louis Misiaszek - The Sally Lachut Majka '61 and Donald Majka Award in Earth Science or Conservation - Senior Level
Harun Shaik - U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Mackenzie Seeley - U.S. Metric Association Award
Sven Van Hoesel - Yale Science and Engineering Association Award
