The Central Texas Science and Engineering Fair was held Feb. 23-24 at Texas State Technical College.

First-, second- and third-place regional winners advanced to the ExxonMobil State Engineering and Science Fair in San Antonio April 9-12.

Regional winners are listed by student(s), school and project title. Senior division denotes high school. Junior division denotes junior high schp;.

JUNIOR DIVISION

Animal science — 1st, Devin Gary, Midway Middle, “Caffeine’s Effect on a Water Flea’s Heart Rate.” 2nd, Maggie Kearney, Midway Middle, “Genetic Drift and Population Size in Fruit Flies.”

Behavioral/social sciences — 1st, Julia McKnight, Midway Middle, “Face It: The Effect of Emotional State on the Interpretation of Ambiguous Facial Expressions.” 2nd, Wesley Williams, China Spring Intermediate, “R U Taking Risks.” 3rd, Chloe Roberts, Midway Middle, “Does This Make Me Look Fat? Magazine Advertising.” Honorable mention, Katie Coley, Midway Middle, “Eye Spy.”

Cellular and molecular —Honorable mention, Chelsey Kincaid, Midway Middle, “Is There a Difference in Fruit DNA?”

Chemistry — 1st, Sarah Sepanski, Midway Middle, “The Acidity of Vinegar.” 2nd, Matthew R. Weatherman, Midway Middle, “Corrision of Iron in Bases and Acids.”

Computer science — 1st, Patrick Grace, H.G Isbill Junior High (McGregor), “Light Source: Coloring in the Lines.”

Earth science — 1st, Renat R. Ahatov, Harmony Science Academy (Waco), “Locating an Earthquake Using a Global Seismic.” 2nd, Glenn Davis, H.G. Isbill Junior High (McGregor), “Riverbed Erosion.” 3rd, Robert Wolf, Midway Middle, “Footprints.” Honorable mention, Hope Lenamon, H.G. Isbill Junior High (McGregor), “Talc Talk.”

Energy/transportation — 1st, Zane Foster, H.G. Isbill Junior High (McGregor), “Breaking Wind: A Study of Optimum Wind Tribune.” 2nd, Landin Ayres, H.G. Isbill Junior High (McGregor), “The Great Wind Water Battle.” 3rd, Kaitlyn McFerrin, China Spring Intermediate, “Bottle Rocket and Propulsion.”

Engineering/electrical/mechanical — 1st, Darrin Davis Jr., China Spring Intermediate, “Capacitor Charge and Retention.” 2nd, Korban Young, Waco Baptist Academy, “Standard or Independent?” 3rd, Layne Mayes, China Spring Intermediate, “Wind Turbine Blades.” Honorable mention, Cristian Lara, Harmony Science Academy (Waco), “Changing the Temperature of Solar Panels.” Honorable mention, Mariyah Tucker, H.G. Isbill Junior High (McGregor), “Building Light.”

Engineering/material/bioengineering —1st, Zach Johnson, Waco Baptist Academy, “Bamboo ... Not Just for Pandas!” 2nd, Raelee Choins, Waco Baptist Academy, “Plants Have Worn Them So Why Can’t We?” 3rd, John Warren, Waco Baptist Academy, “Hey Batter Batter, Does Length Really Matter?”

Environmental management — 1st, Kendle Rhodes, Wortham Middle, “Does The Lightning in My School Provide An Adequate Level of Lighting for Schoolwork?” 2nd, Dillon Hensel, H.G. Isbill Junior High (McGregor), “Blocking Floods.” 3rd, Stefani Jimenez, H.G Isbill Junior High (McGregor), “Stop the Sound!”

Environmental science — 1st, Jordan Back, Midway Middle, “Looking at the Effects of Nutrients on Algae in Lake Water.” 2nd, Ryan Katherine Golden, Waco Baptist Academy, “Got Nitrates?” 3rd, Branden Dietzman, H.G. Isbill Junior High (McGregor), “Saving the Sealant.”

Mathematical science — 1st, Kaci Thane, H.G. Isbill Junior High (McGregor), “The Angles Behind a Free Throw.”

Medicine/health — 1st, Virginia Ann Mathis, Waco Baptist Academy, “Starch in Teens: More Than It Seems?”

Microbiology — 1st, Kellie Carpenter, Waco Baptist Academy, “Hand Sanitation: What Kills?” 2nd, Lilia Adra, Harmony Science Academy, “The Clean Sweep.” 3rd, Kyndall Hamilton, Waco Baptist Academy, “To Reuse, or Not to Reuse?” Honorable mention, Caleb Emblem, China Spring Intermediate, “Life Preserver.” Honorable mention, Madeline Garrett, Waco Baptist Academy, “Sanitation Investigation: Hospitals.”

Physics/astronomy — 1st, Charles Harrell, China Spring Intermediate, “Light Weight Vs. Heavy Weight.” 2nd, Shawn Cleaver, Midway Middle, “Evading Radar: Which Materials Work Best?” 3rd, Zackery Mazza, Lake Air Intermediate, “Follow the Bouncing Ball.” Honorable mention, Jacob Pardun, China Spring Intermediate, “Magnetic Levitation.”

Plant sciences — 1st, Phoebe Stanford, Waco Baptist Academy, “Finding Jack’s Secret: The Effects of Bottled, Tap and Rain Water on the Growth of Bean Plants.” 2nd, Dalani Elliott, H.G. Isbill Junior High (McGregor), The Infestation.” 3rd, Gabi Mangiamele, Midway Middle, “Bean Plant Growth in Different Lighting.”

Team entry — 1st, Linda Ren and Emily Cecile Brown, Midway Middle, “Supercritical CO2 vs. CCl4.” 2nd, Jesse Maggard and Eric Rovelo, Waco Baptist Academy, “If I Were a Gamer.” 3rd, Cole Risinger and Wesley Field, China Spring Intermediate, “Fire Away! Ping Pong Catapult.” Honorable mention, Ryan Spahr and Brent Oakes, H.G. Isbill Junior High (McGregor), “Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto.”

Baylor University School of Education 6th Grade Award — Darrin Davis Jr., China Spring Intermediate, “Capacitor Charge Retention.”

Baylor University School of Education 7th Grade Award — Devin Gary, Midway Middle, “Caffeine’s Effect on a Water Flea’s Heart Rate.”

Baylor University School of Education 8th Grade Award — Zach Johnson, Waco Baptist Academy, “Bambo ... Not Just for Pandas!”

Sandy Ren, who completed her junior year at Midway High School, stands beside her project, “Astrobiology: Life in the Universe, Year IV,” at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in San Jose, Calif., May 8-14. She and her seventh-grade science teacher and mentor, Melissa Rhoden, met renowned scientists and Nobel laureates at the fair. Her project earned a Best in Fair Award at the regional level to earn the international invitation. Sandy is the daughter of Fong Lam and Alan Ren.
Midway ISD photo

SENIOR DIVISION

Behavioral/social sciences — 1st, Jake Young, C.H. Yoe High (Cameron), “Relationship Between the Coach’s Use of Verbal Aggression on the Motivation and the Effect on the Player.” 2nd, Jayci Denio, C.H. Yoe High (Cameron), “The Effect of Therapeutic Horseback Riding Sessions.”

Biochemistry — 1st, Amauri Herrera, Rockdale High, “Human Digestion.”

Chemistry — 1st, Sandy Ren (right), Midway High, “Astrobiology: Life in the Universe Year IV.” 2nd, Kari Manas, Rockdale High, “Freezing Point Depression Efficiency.”

Engineering/materials/bioengineering — 1st, Nisha Pillai, Temple High, “Efficiency of Two Novel Biodegradable Polymers at Various Temperature Levels.”

Environmental management — 1st, Iyan Younus, C.H. Yoe High (Cameron), “Assessment of E-Waste in Households, Schools and Offices in a Rural Community.”

Environmental science — Honorable mention, Matthew Chandler, C.H. Yoe High (Cameron), “Water Monitoring of Mussel Habitat in the Little River.”

Microbiology — 1st, Rebekah Weber, Temple High, “Killer Clothes.” 2nd, Patrick Lloyd, C.H. Yoe High (Cameron), “A Comparative Study of Algal Strains and Their Lipid Production.” 3rd, Madeline Kostroun, C.H. Yoe High (Cameron), “Effects on Number of Nonpathogenic E. coli Strain.”

Physics/astronomy — 1st, Tyler King, Rockdale High, “Vid-Glasses.”

Plant sciences — 1st, Krystal Flemings, C.H. Yoe High (Cameron), ”Analysis of Lichen Population in Milam County.” 2nd, Sandi Lara, C.H. Yoe High (Cameron), “Phenotypic Expression of Varistion in Ocimum.”

Team entry — Honorable mention, Dawnica Estes and Taylor Johnson, Rockdale High, “Human Coyote Interface Project.”

Bryce C. Brown Award for Most Promising Young Scientist — Julia McKnight, Midway Middle, “Face It: The Effect of Emotional State on the Interpretation of Ambiguous Facial Expressions.”

Junior sweepstakes — 1st, Zach Johnson, Waco Baptist Academy, “Bamboo ... Not Just for Pandas!” 2nd, Darrin Davis Jr., China Spring Intermediate, “Capacitor Charge Retention.” 3rd, Julia McKnight, “Midway Middle, “Face It: The Effect of Emotional State on the Interpretation of Ambiguous Facial Expressions.”

Senior finalists (advance to international fair)— Nisha Pillai, Temple High, “Efficiency of Two Novel Biodegradable Polymers at Various Temperature Levels.” Sandy Ren, Midway High, “Astrobiology: Life in the Universe Year IV.”

Senior alternates — 1, Jake Young, C.H. Yoe High (Cameron), “Relationship Between the Coach’s Use of Verbal Aggression on the Motivation and the Effect on the Player.” 2, Krystal Flemings, C.H. Yoe High (Cameron), Analysis of Lichen Population in Milam County.”

SPECIAL AWARDS

American Meteorological Society Award — Kari Manas, Rockdale High, “Freezing Point Depression Efficiency,” Art Free.

Baylor University biology department (2) — Krystal R. Flemings, C.H. Yoe High (Cameron), “Analysis of Lichen Population in Milam County,” Toni Lafferty; Jordan Back, Midway Middle, “Looking at the Effects of Nutrients on Algae in Lake Waco Water,” Melissa Rhoden.

NOAA U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the Undersecretary for Oceans — Landin Ayres, H.G. Isbill Jr. High (McGregor), “The Great Wind Water Battle,” Jennifer Millsap.

TSTC Chemical Technology — Nisha Pillai, Temple High, “Efficiency of Two Novel Biodegradable Polymers at Various  Temperature Levels,” Carol Colwell. Sarah Sepanski, Midway Middle, “The Acidity of Vinegar,” Melissa Rhoden.

Todd Willis Memorial Award — Krystal Flemings, C.E. Yoe High (Cameron),” Analysis of Lichen Population in Milam County,” Toni Lafferty. Devin Gary, Midway Middle, “Caffeine’s Effect on a Water Flea’s Heart Rate,” Melissa Rhoden.

STATE LEVEL

Two Central Texas students placed at the ExxonMobil State Engineering and Science Fair in San Antonio April 9-12.

Midway Middle School eighth-grader Julia McKnight placed second in the behavioral/social sciences division with her project “Face It: The Effect of Emotional State on the Interpretation of Ambiguous Facial Expressions.”

Rebekah Weber of Temple High School placed third in microbiology with her project “Killer Clothes.”

INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

At the International Engineering and Science Fair in San Jose, Calif., May 8-14, Sandy Ren (photo above) of Midway High School and her chemistry project, “Astrobiology: Life in the Universe, Year IV,” earned a special award and a four-year, $50,000 scholarship toward tuition at the Florida Institute of Technology.