Science students make splash at regional fairs

Students from Valley middle and elementary schools made a splash at the Western Nevada Regional Science Fair March 26-28 in Reno.

Carson Valley Middle School seventh-graders Kate Niday, Anthony Sparks, Luis Vega and Keith Becker, all students in teacher Allison Whybrew's life science class, entered projects in the competition.

Gathering Genius, a local nonprofit organization responsible for bringing the 2009 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair to Reno this May, honored Keith Becker for his project, Bio-friendly or Not, which tested the effects of bio-friendly fuels versus non-bio-friendly fuels on aquatic systems.

For his efforts, Keith was awarded a certificate and several tickets for the Intel fair in May.

"He worked very hard, and I'm very proud of him," said Whybrew.

From Meneley Elementary School, fourth-grader Matt Romanowitz took second place for his invention, The Traveling Alarm Clock Pillow. He was awarded a trophy and a savings bond.

Fellow fourth-grader Ben Hallinan won the gold award from the Reno Air Race Foundation for his rocket engine project. Now he and his class will get to participate in a day-long space simulation from the Challenger Learning Center of Nevada.

Astronauts will bring Mission Control and orbiting space station simulators to Meneley Elementary, and students will have a goal of either launching a probe, or intercepting a comet.

Minden Elementary also saw numerous winners. In the Lemelson Young Inventor's Challenge, Lillie McKinney took first place for kindergarten, Ethan McKinney first place for second grade, Zachary Holt third place for third-grade, Cappy Gilbert first place for fifth-grade, Carlos Lopez second place for sixth-grade and the most useful invention award, and Macie Tuell third place for sixth-grade.

In the science fair competition, Lillie McKinney again took first place for kindergarten. Bridget Keegan took fourth in kindergarten, and Braydon Worthington received an honorable mention. Madelyn Landerfelt won fourth place for fourth-grade, and Leah McKinney took second for fifth-grade.