Santa Cruz County Students Win Big

2016 International Science & Engineering Fair and CA State Science Fair

PHOENIX, Az — With the generous support of Seagate Technology, the Santa Cruz County Science & Engineering Fair (SCCSEF) provides the opportunity for the top High School project in our County to compete at the annual International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

From May 8-13, 2016, Benjamin Kolland from Alternative Family Education (AFE) represented Santa Cruz County at ISEF. He competed against over 1700 finalists from 75 countries around the world for approximately $4 Million in prizes. Benjamin received a 2nd Place Special Award and $500 from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and a 3rd Place Category Award and $1,000 in Engineering Mechanics.

Here is a description of Kolland Intel ISEF project: Project ARROW: Autonomous Rocket Return On Wings

To decrease the distance of model rocket drift after deploying a recovery system, the project goal was to develop a low-cost, guided system to bring a model rocket back to the launch area. After considering several recovery options based on previous large-scale NASA work, a rocket was constructed to test a guided parafoil system. To overcome deployment difficulties, the final design used a larger 140mm diameter rocket, larger 2.5 square meter kite, and Arduino guidance computer for autonomous return to the target zone. Six test flights proved Arduino guidance and steering control were viable on the new design. This low-cost autonomous recovery system could have useful applications beyond model rocketry for small-scale payload delivery applications.

Los Angeles, California – Each year, the Santa Cruz County Science & Engineering Fair also provides the opportunity for local students to compete at the California State Science Fair in Los Angeles, CA. On May 23 & 24, 2016, approximately 40 students from schools across Santa Cruz County (Grades 6-12) competed in this annual statewide scholastic competition serving California’s future scientists since 1952. It is hosted by the California Science Center (formerly, the California Museum of Science and Industry). This year there were 941 participants from 421 schools presenting 845 projects meeting in competition for awards totaling nearly $60,000.

Santa Cruz County students won 1 First Place Award, 2 Second Place Awards, 2 Honorable Mention Awards and 2 Special Awards. See below for details on each project.

•••

2016 California State Science Fair
Santa Cruz County Award Winners

First Place – Physics & Astronomy

Spencer M. Cheleden, Grade 11 – Evaluation of Silver Based Astronomical Telescope Coatings. Advisor: Dr. Andrew Phillips. School: Pacific Collegiate School

Second Place – Plant Biology

Zinnia M. Hutchinson, Grade 8 – How Much Sodium Chloride Can a Cabbage Plant Withstand? The Effects of Salt (NaCl) on Plant Life. Advisor: Ms. Sallie Corbin. School: Mission Hill Junior High School

Second Place – Toxicology

Greta C. Feague, Grade 6 – The Effects of Pesticides on Bees’ Lifespans. Advisor: <none acknowledged>. School: Spring Hill Advanced Elementary School

Honorable Mention
Applied Mechanics & Structures

Benjamin T. Kolland, Grade 11 – Project ARROW: Autonomous Rocket Return on Wings. Advisor: Ms. Jasmin Gerer. School: Alternative Family Education, Santa Cruz

Environmental Science

Ashley N. Welch, Grade 10 & Maxwell S. Zinkievich, Grade 10 – El Nino’s Effects on San Lorenzo Valley’s Atmospheric Inversions. Advisor: Ms. Jane Orbuch. School: San Lorenzo Valley High School

Peter Emmanuel Shirajian Award
Presented by Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA) – $200 Award

Benjamin T. Kolland, Grade 11 – Project ARROW: Autonomous Rocket Return on Wings. Advisor: Ms. Jasmin Gerer. School: Alternative Family Education, Santa Cruz

SPIE Optics and Photonics Award
Presented by SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics – $500 Award

Spencer M. Cheleden, Grade 11 – Evaluation of Silver Based Astronomical Telescope Coatings. Advisor: Dr. Andrew Phillips. School: Pacific Collegiate School

•••

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education is a public agency whose purpose is to provide educational leadership, resources and services to schools to ensure quality educational opportunities for all students. Website: http://science.santacruz.k12.ca.us/