FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, May 2, 2012
CONTACT: Meredith Rosenthal at 302-573-6054 or Meredith_Rosenthal@coons.senate.gov

Senator Coons, DSU announce winners of first-ever Kent County Science Fair

66 budding scientists from across Kent County showcased their science, technology, engineering and math skills at Delaware State University

DOVER, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons and Delaware State University co-hosted the first-ever Kent County Science Fair in Dover on Wednesday, drawing 66 middle school and high school students who displayed creative and innovative science projects. The science fair was organized to encourage students to pursue an education rooted in science, technology, engineering and math.

“The Kent County Science Fair, and events like it, play an important role in encouraging students to explore careers that require an education based in science, technology, engineering and math,” Senator Coons said.  “As a chemistry major in college, and after working for eight years at one of Delaware’s most innovative materials-based science companies, I was excited to see so many budding scientists at today’s science fair.  I know first-hand the value of a STEM-based education and it’s something I still put to use in my daily work in the Senate. ”

DSU President Harry L. Williams said that he was impressed with the middle school students’ projects and hopes to hold the Kent County Science Fair at DSU again in the future.

“In hosting the Kent County Science Fair, DSU has served in its natural role as a STEM advocate, to provide strong encouragement to these youths to continue to develop themselves in the STEM areas,” said Dr. Williams. “From the outstanding projects exhibited here today, there is a great possibility that among these students might be some future science leaders that will help propel this country beyond its current greatness.”

Students’ projects were judged in the areas of mathematical sciences, computer science, physics and engineering by a panel of experts from several Delaware companies.

High School Winners

Biology:  

• 1^st Place: “Smelling of the Sexes” - Dover High School - Brittany Whitmore, Yasmemin Simsek, Mika Heredia, Jada Little
• 2^nd Place: “5-3=2 Super Senses” - Dover High School - Melvin Ross, Damon Butler
• 3^rd Place: “Blondes versus Brunettes” - Dover High School - Tyauna Potts

Chemistry:

• 1^st Place: “Chemical Effects 0f Catalysts”  Smyrna High School - Dorothy Johnson, Aliyah Burton, Mary Arkoh, John Arkoh, Anthony Euren

Middle School Winners

Physics and Engineering:

• 1^st Place: “Batter Up” - William Henry Middle School - Alexxys Harris, Noah Lanouette, Dale Waite
• 2^nd Place: “No Yolk About It - How to Keep from Cracking Your Eggs” - Sunrize Academy - Lee Ferguson
• 3^rd Place (tie): “Rube Goldberg Machine” - William Henry Middle School - Hayley Scheir,
  Kathryn Suter
• 3^rd Place (tie): “Marble Loop” - Milford Middle School - Dalton Carter, Danny Zang

Chemistry:

• 1^st Place: “Biodiesel”- William Henry Middle School - Jacob Harrison
• 2^nd Place: “Chemical Reaction Crystals” - William Henry Middle School - Jing Rue Lin
• 3^rd Place: “ Soda…Rust Remover?” - Central Middle - Carolyn Lewis, Monica Elavarthi

Biology:

• 1^st Place: “How Caffeine Effects the Physiology of Goldfish” - Smyrna Middle School -Shawn Tazewell
• 2^nd Place: “The Effects of High Glycemic Foods have on Blood Sugar” - William Henry Middle School - Emily Cook
• 3^rd Place: “ The Effects of Nicotine on the Lungs”- Central Middle School - Anmol Gill

Other hosts included Optical Science Center for Applied Research at Delaware State University, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, The Boeing Company, The Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, and ILC Dover.

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