The next Albert Einstein may be attending San Juan School.
After all the votes were tabulated, two students from San Juan
Bautista captured top honors at the annual San Benito County
Science Fair this week for their projects that delved into the
wonders of the field.
The next Albert Einstein may be attending San Juan School.
After all the votes were tabulated, two students from San Juan Bautista captured top honors at the annual San Benito County Science Fair this week for their projects that delved into the wonders of the field.
“The purpose is to encourage the use of the scientific method and the areas of science,” said Charles Oles, coordinator of the county science fair. “It also encourages community activity and supports students.”
Zach Johnson won first place in the physical science category for sixth, seventh and eight graders. He also received the grand-prize trophy. His project was titled “At What Angle of Attack Will a Plane Stall?”
“Last year, I was the runner-up, so I hoped to better myself this year. I’m glad I did,” said Johnson, a San Juan School seventh-grader. “I knew I had a really good school project.”
Johnson said he spent a lot of time and research into his project, which expanded on his science project from last year. He built a wind tunnel and placed a plane wing inside it. Johnson’s mother said her son consulted a lot of sources, including aeronautical engineers with NASA.
Olivia Fiori, a sixth-grader at San Juan School, won runner-up with “Are You Sick of Surfing?” She said she got the idea for her project from a list her teacher circulated.
“You get to learn a lot. It’s great to learn stuff you never even knew,” Fiori said. “It’s fun to do an experiment.”
More than 175 science projects were entered in the fair Tuesday night that showed the best of the best young scientists in the county and 41 trophies were handed out. The five best projects will represent the county at the California State Science Fair in May. Usually, the grand prize and runner-up winners automatically go.
One reason for the fair is to further engage students in science and its mechanics.
The science fair is open to all kindergarten through 12th-grade students attending either public or private schools. Most schools hold science fairs then send the best projects to the county event.
The categories included botany, earth science, physical science, environmental science, behavior/physiology, microbiology and zoology. Trophies were handed out to the top-three projects in each category for two different grade levels – fourth- and fifth-graders and sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders.
Sometimes, families will get involved in the learning experiment.
Jenny Laverone earned first place in the behavior/physiology category for fourth- and fifth-graders for her project, “Taste Buds: Do They Change Over Time?” Her mother Lori Laverone said about 20 people were involved in Jenny’s learning experience.
“I’m very proud (about her trophy). A lot of what you think will happen in circumstances won’t necessarily,” Lori said.
Projects were judged in three categories: project content-process skills, creativity and display-neatness.
Johnson received a $500 savings bond and Fiori received a $300 savings bond, sponsored by San Benito County Waste Management.
The 52nd annual California State Science Fair will be held May 19-20. This year, organizers expect nearly 1,000 participants from throughout the state to compete for awards totaling more than $50,000.
