Written by: Seth Gardalen
AHS science fair has been in full speed lately with the students going to several events. Algona High School students participated in the Western Iowa Science & Engineering Fair, WISEF, at Buena Vista University on March 23rd. They also competed at State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa at Iowa State University on April 4th & 5th.
Senior Hoyt Crouch placed third at WISEF in the High School Physical division and third in High School Physics & Astronomy at State. His project was titled “Trailing Edges: Stealth by Design.”
Senior Audrey Snider placed second in the High School Animal Science division at State. Her project was titled “Is the blood of Equus caballus viable when xenotransfused to Bos taurus and Capra aegagrus hircus?”
Junior Emerson Waltz placed first in the High School Physical division at WISEF and won a trip to the Genius Olympiad in New York. She placed third in the High School Energy & Transportation division at State. Her project was titled “The Power of Plastic: The Recycling of Plastics as an Alternative Fuel Source.”
Sophomore Brooklyn Adams participated in the High School Chemistry division. Her project was titled “What Sunscreen Protects Best Against UV.”
Freshman Cassidy Bierstedt placed second in division three, Plant Systems, in the FFA Agriscience Fair at State. Her project was titled “Nitrate Reduction by Plants.”
Freshman Abby Lampe placed third in High School Microbiology at State and won a trip to ISEF in Los Angeles as a freshman observer. Her project was “The Significance of Testing Antibiotic Combinations.”
Freshman Riley Schechinger received honorable mention in the High School Biological division at WISEF and won a trip to ISEF in Los Angeles as a freshman observer for her project “How Essential Oils Affect Bacteria.”
Freshman Abigail Smith won a Ricoh award at WISEF. Her project was titled “Growing Penicillium.”
Freshmen McKenna VanReese & Elisabeth Wolf placed third in the High School Team category at WISEF for their project “Potato Plastic.”
This concludes a great science fair season for most of these students. However, Waltz will compete at the Genius Olympiad in Rochester, New York, in June. This is an international fair with over 800 projects and students from 50 countries.
Schechinger and Lampe will be attending ISEF in Los Angeles, California, as freshmen observers. This is also an international fair with over 1500 projects from 70 countries.
AHS science fair continues to have success and get better.