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Highlands students recognized for regional science fair projects; several advance to state and international competitions
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Summary
Students from Lake Placid, Sebring and other district schools won regional awards and nominations for state and international fairs; the board honored participants and teachers at the meeting.
The Highlands County School Board recognized student winners of the Heartland Regional Science and Engineering Fair and awarded certificates to students who earned local and regional placements.
Van Peoples, the district's secondary math and science specialist, and Jennifer Reeser, elementary math and science specialist, presented the students and summarized awards. Projects honored ranged from environmental studies (algae growth and phosphorus proximity to water) to biomedical investigations and engineering-leaning projects. Several students earned local first-place awards and regional recognitions; a subset qualified for state competition and, in at least one case, the International Science and Engineering Fair.
Notable recognitions read into the record included: - Ava Casares (Lake Placid) — Beyond the Pond (algae growth by water source): first place local & regional; Hidden Worlds Discovery Award; Environmental Innovation Award. - Anika Bhandare (Sebring High) — biomarker study related to colorectal cancer: first place local & regional; Regeneron Biomedical Award; qualified for State and the International Science and Engineering Fair. - Jonathan Reeser — Organic Boosters: Fertilizers for radish growth: first place locally, third place regionally. - Phoenix Lykes (Lake Placid) — Phosphorus levels and water proximity: first place locally, second place regionally. - Eli Dewey (Lake Placid Middle) — From Sports Drinks to Sparks (electrical current generation): first place local & regional; Thermo Fisher nomination (possible trip to Washington, D.C.). - Berkeley Malone — Zip Zap (potato electricity experiment): local and regional placements noted. - Arianna Bandare — That’s a Wrap (beeswax wrap as alternative to plastic): first place local & regional; multiple awards and state qualifier status.
Presenters thanked teachers and mentors, specifically naming Mrs. Hardesty and Mrs. Roberts for their work with student projects. Students were invited forward for certificates and group photographs; the board applauded the students for their curiosity and persistence.
The board recognized the role of teachers and mentors in developing student projects and noted that some students will proceed to state and international-level competitions based on regional results.
