Research by Hilo High School’s Jared Goodwin about the movement of arsenic-contaminated soil around Hilo’s Wailoa Pond was among the top winners Feb. 18 during the Hawaii District Science and Engineering Fair at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center.
Research by Hilo High School’s Jared Goodwin about the movement of arsenic-contaminated soil around Hilo’s Wailoa Pond was among the top winners Feb. 18 during the Hawaii District Science and Engineering Fair at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center.
Goodwin, a sophomore, was ecstatic to learn he earned his way to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May in Los Angeles. In addition, classmate Ina Klasner also earned high honors and secured the second invitation to the international event.
Pascale Creek Pinner of Hilo Intermediate School received the teacher award for her work in the high school division.
Overall, 105 students competed in this year’s Hawaii District fair, with the judges commenting it was one of the most competitive to date.
Rounding out the top projects in the high school division were Moana Pinner from Hilo High (third place) and Felix Peng from Waiakea High School (honorable mention).
In the junior division, Waiakea Intermediate School swept the field with eighth-grader Maya Atwal winning first place for her project “Investigating Salinity Effects on Hawaiian and Micronesian Taro.” Classmates Aden Leyson, Mara Hon and Lela DeVine took second, third and honorable mention, respectively.
Thirty-five students will represent the Hawaii District at the Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair in April at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu:
• Jared Goodwin, Ina Klasner, Moana Pinner and Sunny Sakai of Hilo High.
• Jamie Ebersole, Lester Iwata, Anne Nakamoto, Felix Peng, Benjamin Poppas and Haruna Tomono of Waiakea High.
• Marybeth DeRego and Clara Trainer of Kamehameha Schools.
• Maya Atwal, Lela DeVine, Mara Hon, Claire Hughes, Aden Leyson, Kevin Li, Megan Nakamoto, Matthew Okuda, Ethan Okahara-Olsen, Tiffany Takiguchi, Rachel Tao and Alysa Yabe of Waiakea Intermediate School.
• Emma Choi, Ben Kubo, Ben May, Julia Padron and Anela Stewart of Parker School.
• Alicia Chun, Gaayatri Godbole, Patricia Saiki, Joshua Schneider, Emma Sowards and Cami Wong of Hilo Intermediate.
The Hawaii District Science and Engineering Fair is a joint project sponsored by the Robert and Alice Fujimoto Foundation, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Caroline M. Shipman Foundation, Hapai Enterprises and Science FUNdamentals, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii, Hawaii Electric Light Co., University of Hawaii at Hilo Sigma Xi Chapter, state Department of Education, Hawaii Academy of Science, TMT Observation Corp. and Kamehameha Schools Hawaii.
A full listing of all agency awards and project titles is available on the Hawaii District Science and Engineering Fair Facebook page.