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A time for testing theories

What was the formula for winning at the 21st annual Kern County Science Fair held on April 2 at Rabobank Convention Center in Bakersfield? A lot of variables lead to a gold medal, such as testing a theory no one else had, demonstrating keen math and scientific research and data skills and being able to defend your findings in front of a panel of judges. El Tejon School seventh-grader Forrest Csulak discovered one other intangible that contributed to his success — a motivating science teacher.

"I never entered before because I was not interested, but my teacher, Andria Bloom really encouraged me," said Csulak.

It was a good decision as his first-ever entry, called "Edison's Bright Idea," took first place honors in the Middle School Electricity and Electronics category. He tested light bulbs with filaments made of tungsten, steel, copper, brass, carbon and nichrome. His findings? Tungsten, which has to be imported, stayed lit the longest. Carbon dimmed the quickest, but was also the cheapest, since it does not have to be imported.

"Still, I am in the scouts, and if I was searching through a dark cave, I would want the tungsten because it could mean the difference between living or dying," Csulak said.

Approximately 700 county fourth-12th grade students participated in the event administered by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. El Tejon students made a great showing with Csulak's Lebec schoolmates, Joshua Arreola, Christian Brown and Melissa Gore earning gold medals for their projects in separate categories. All will be joining Csulak at the state championships in May.

Gore's winning entry in the Pharmacology and Biochemistry category, "Algae vs Acid," proved algae can be used to reduce air pollution. "We found out that algae could help reduce CO2 from large power plants and be turned into biofuel, reducing the need for fossil fuel, which is what creates acid rain," Gore said.

Desert High sophomore Mark Canning had a tongue twister of an entry in the Senior Physics and Astronomy category, titled "Underwater Interferometric Seismometer." It made sense if Canning knew what the title meant, he probably had the knowledge to win. He did.

Here is his explanation of what it all means. "Interferometers use interference phenomena between wave lengths to measure light. My goal was to see how several liquids — water, Karo syrup, mineral oil, olive oil and ethyl alcohol would slow down waves of light measured by the interferometer." Canning said.

Canning said his experiment could be applied in the computer industry to such things as the manufacture of nanochips with increased storage capacity.

Science fair categories ranged from aerodynamics/hydrodynamics to thermochemistry. Entries were judged on scientific thought/engineering goals, creativity, organization, completeness, clarity, effort and motivation. Students had to explain their displays, log books and hypothesis to a panel of judges. Many Senior and Middle School Division students placing first, second and in some cases third in categories are eligible to compete in the 57th annual California Science Fair to be held May 20 at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

The science fair is administered by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools with primary sponsorship provided by Aera Energy LLC. Additional sponsorship and support is offered by Chevron North America Exploration and Production, Occidental of Elk Hills, and Kern County Science Foundation.

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2008 Kern County Regional Science Fair Awards

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION – Grades 9-12

APPLIED MECHANICS
First Place — Stephen Michael, Frontier High School
Second Place — Alex Thomas and Austin Adee, Bakersfield Christian High School
Third Place — Leonel Banuelos and Andrew Orme, Desert High School

BEHAVIORAL and SOCIAL SCIENCES
First Place — Kehly Kirk, Desert High School
Second Place — Tarah Franklin and Kaitlyn Kennett, Desert High School
Third Place — Jennifer Hines and Cybrina Lukenbill, Desert High School

CHEMISTRY
First Place — Amy Lee and Tommy Wooding, Burroughs High School
Second Place — Erika Kern and Analiese Scrivano, Bakersfield High School
Third Place — Aurora Ostrom, Burroughs High School
Honorable Mention — Greg Hanel, Stockdale High School

EARTH and ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
First Place — Nick Okita and Edith Teng, Stockdale High School
Second Place — Aubryn Butterfield, Bakersfield Christian High School

MAMMALIAN BIOLOGY/PHYSIOLOGY and ZOOLOGY
First Place — Elizabeth Koo, Stockdale High School
Second Place — Aley Barnum and Emily Wright, Desert High School
Third Place — Julie Baker and Karen Nichlos, Desert High School

MATHEMATICS/COMPUTER SCIENCE and GAMES
First Place — Brian Lee, Burroughs High School
Second Place — NONE
Third Place — Brianna Lawrence, Desert High School
Third Place — Ashley Anton, Desert High School

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY and MICROBIOLOGY
First Place — Christina Apple, North High School
Second Place — Heather Horton, North High School
Third Place — Prnay Chopra, Bakersfield Christian High School

PHYSICS and ASTRONOMY
First Place — Mark Canning, Desert High School
Second Place — Richard Martinez and Kaitlyn Wakefield, Desert High School
Third Place — Christopher Barnum and Michael Struve, Desert High School

PLANT BIOLOGY
First Place — Jonathan Enns, Bakersfield Christian High School
Second Place — Timeka James and Gaylene Siguenza, Desert High School
Third Place — Matthew Bowen and Samuel Munoz, North High School
Honorable Mention — Michael Salinas and Zackary Alexander, Bakersfield Christian High School

MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION — Grades 6-8

AERODYNAMICS/HYDRODYNAMICS
First Place — Tustin Moore, Fruitvale Jr. High School
Second Place — Austin Keys, Branch Elementary School
Third Place — Karina Ramirez, John Pruiett School
Honorable Mention — Bradley Kounter, Casey Pierce and Aaron Thoene, Olive Knolls Christian School
Special Recognition — Andrew Louden, Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Special Recognition — Cody Walker, Joshua Middle School

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
First Place — Austin Garcia, St. John's Lutheran School
Second Place — Daisy Hinojoza, McKee Middle School
Third Place — Eric Fuller, Rio Bravo-Greeley School
Honorable Mention — Garrett White, Freedom Middle School

APPLIED MECHANICS
First Place — Danielle Behrens, Stockdale Christian School
Second Place — Thomas Newman, Norris Middle School
Third Place — Brent Starrh, Richland Jr. High School
Honorable Mention — Gary Hutton and Kevin Lee, Hart School

BEHAVIORAL and SOCIAL SCIENCES
First Place — Kayla Moe, Rio Bravo Greeley
Second Place — Amy Bosworth and Rory Hagelstein, Standard Middle School
Third Place — Kayla Nichols, Standard Middle School
Honorable Mention — Kristen Dermer, Our Lady of Perpetual Help

CHEMISTRY
First Place — Christian Brown, El Tejon School
Second Place — Jotthe Kannappan, Warren Jr. High School
Third Place — Irfan Habib, Reagan School
Honorable Mention — Oakley Alius, California City Middle School

EARTH and ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
First Place — Joshua Arreola, El Tejon School
Second Place — Spencer Shoemaker, Freedom Middle School
Third Place — Matthew Claypool, Curran Middle School
Honorable Mention — Jessica Samson, St. Francis School
Honorable Mention — Sarah Klein, Stockdale School
Honorable Mention — Karly Lux, Stonecreek Jr. High School

ELECTRICITY and ELECTRONICS
First Place — Forrest Csulak, El Tejon School
Second Place — David Hamilton, McAuliffe School
Third Place — Adam Davis, American Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Nicolas Evans, Norris Middle School
Honorable Mention — Zachary Rosenberger, Fairfax School
Special Recognition — Julian Jordan, Cecil Avenue Middle School

MAMMALIAN BIOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY and ZOOLOGY
First Place — Matthew Austin, Heritage Academy
Second Place — Joseph Stearns, Heritage Academy
Third Place — Kelsea Johnson, Rosedale North Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Angel Cariaga and Kinsey Love, American Elementary School

MATERIALS SCIENCE
Grade 6 First Place — Maximillian Wolfe, Bill Williams School
Grade 6 Second Place — Amanda Wong, Reagan School
Grade 6 Third Place — Jacob Moe, Rio Bravo-Greeley School
Grade 6 Honorable Mention — Lacey Lindsley, St. Francis School
Grade 6 Honorable Mention — Caleb Quitoriano, La Viña Middle School

Grade 7 First Place — Caitlin Bransby, Fruitvale Jr. High School
Grade 7 Second Place — Ryan Howes, Rio Bravo-Greeley School
Grade 7 Third Place — Eddie Lopez, McKee Middle School
Grade 7 Honorable Mention — Conrad Esch, St. Francis School

Grade 8 First Place — Alec Swager, St. John's Lutheran School
Grade 8 Second Place — Nicole Lopez, Stonecreek Jr. High School
Grade 8 Third Place — Sarah Hill, Stockdale Christian School
Grade 8 Honorable Mention — Cory Camp, Stockdale Christian School

MATHEMATICS/COMPUTER SCIENCE and GAMES
First Place — Paul Mayer, Stockdale School
Second Place — Jacob Riess, Norris Middle School
Third Place — Alyssa Garcia, Downtown Elementary School
Third Place — Alyssa Bloomberg, Murray Middle School

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY and MICROBIOLOGY
First Place — Katelyn Shipp, Norris Middle School
Second Place — Navdeep Dhaliwal, Warren Jr. High School
Third Place — Anastasia Clegg, Fruitvale Jr. High School
Honorable Mention — Joseph Roach, St. Francis School

PHARMACOLOGY and BIOCHEMISTRY
First Place — Melissa Gore, El Tejon School
Second Place — Gabriel Smith and Margarito Guzman, Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Third Place — Marta Packer, Fremont School
Honorable Mention — Molly Chandler, Freedom Middle School
Special Recognition — Nicole Bianco, St. John's Lutheran

PHYSICS and ASTRONOMY
First Place — Shalin Shah, Warren Jr. High School
Second Place — Nathan Behrens, Stockdale Christian School
Third Place — Prutha Mehta, Warren Jr. High School
Honorable Mention — Roel Romualdo, Almond Tree Middle School
Honorable Mention — Heather Hansen, Fruitvale Jr. High School
Honorable Mention — Dylan Seaton, St. Francis School

PLANT BIOLOGY
First Place — Roy Goldstein, McAuliffe School
Second Place — Leah Ostermann, St. Ann School
Third Place — Nayeli Gonzalez, Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Honorable Mention — Abigail Maliyekkal, Hart School
Honorable Mention — Rex Rubinstein, Van Horn School

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS
First Place — Chris Botts, Norris Middle School
Second Place — Gathenji Njoroge, Patriot Elementary School
Third Place — Rafael Jimenez, Greenfield Middle School

THERMOCHEMISTRY and KINETICS
First Place — Charlie Paulsen and Anthony Rinaldi, Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Second Place — Tyler Myers, Branch Elementary School
Third Place — Ethan Stacy, Norris Middle School
Honorable Mention — Mitchel Nelson, Norris Middle School
Honorable Mention — Tanner Dewalt, Stockdale Christian School

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION — 4th Grade
(Not Eligible for State Science Fair)

ASTRONOMY/EARTH and ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
First Place — Lizabeth Nunez, Fremont School
Second Place — Jordan Holmes, Owens Intermediate School
Second Place — Matthew Chaffee, McAuliffe School
Third Place — Hannah Glover, New Life Christian School

BEHAVIORAL/ANIMAL and FIELD STUDIES
First Place — Kassandra Martin, Palm Avenue School
Second Place — Becca Jensen, Stine School
Third Place — Joseph Kroeker, Owens Intermediate School

CHEMISTRY and CHEMICAL REACTIONS
First Place — Everett Gallella, Valley Oaks Charter School
First Place — Ryan Kmet, Hacienda Elementary School
Second Place — Joshua McGowan, Endeavour Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Sebastian Denney, Sequoia Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Bethany Fitzsimmons, Midway School

HEAT CHEMISTRY and HEAT PHYSICS
First Place — Mai Azumi, Hart School
Second Place — Timothy Nunez, Morningside School
Third Place — Brandon Goenawan, Stockdale Elementary School

FOOD and HEALTH SCIENCE
First Place — Jackson Olinger, Columbia Elementary School
Second Place — Savanna Sorrell, Country Christian School
Third Place — Krystal Bosmans, Kernville School

MATERIALS and CONSUMER SCIENCE
First Place — Morgan Atkinson, Patriot Elementary School
Second Place — Brian Elvington, Hamilton Elementary School
Third Place — Evan Lostetter, Centennial Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Fallon Bock, Tompkins Elementary School

PHYSICS
First Place — Alec Howes, Rio Bravo Greeley School
Second Place — Trey Schoenwetter, Downtown Elementary School
Third Place — Austin Robles, Berkshire Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Christina Pipkin, Laurelglen School
Honorable Mention — Eden Breazeale, Sing Lum School

PLANT BIOLOGY
First Place — Tyler Wilson, Valley Oaks Charter School
Second Place — Nicholaus Goetjen, Independence Elementary School
Third Place — Ashley Bono, Hacienda Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Mykela Blanchard, Palm Avenue School

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION — 5th Grade
(Not Eligible for State Science Fair)

ASTRONOMY, EARTH and ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
First Place — Ellyse Adamczyk, Hacienda Elementary School
Second Place — Heather Seymour, American Elementary School
Third Place — Nicolas Nistor, Old River Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Felipe Rojas, Stine School

BEHAVIORAL, ANIMAL and FIELD STUDIES
First Place — Tiffany Yeh, Stockdale Elementary School
Second Place — Alexa Wheelan, Standard Elementary School
Third Place — Julyssa Duffey, Palm Avenue School

CHEMISTRY and CHEMICAL REACTIONS
First Place — Tyler Patton, Endeavour Elementary School
Second Place — Celeste Vaca, Fremont School
Third Place — Alexandra Silva, St. Ann School
Honorable Mention — Nick Reed-Lancaster, Rosedale North Elementary School

ENGINEERING/MATHEMATICS and GAMES
First Place — Mackenzee O'Rear, Loudon School
Second Place — Katilin Stephenson, West Park Elementary School
Third Place — Zachary Haskell, Golden Hills Elementary School

HEAT CHEMISTRY and HEAT PHYSICS
First Place — Noah Kroeker, Owens Intermediate School
Second Place — Walter Skowron, Centennial Elementary School
Third Place — Jennykay Pratt, Del Rio Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Briana Corcoll, Joshua Middle School
Honorable Mention — Kirstin Redner, Laurelglen School

FOOD and HEALTH SCIENCE
First Place — Evan Sanchez, Del Rio Elementary School
Second Place — Adriana Alcala, Bessie Owens Intermediate School
Third Place — Jasmine Fong, Reagan School
Honorable Mention — Emily Crowe, Tompkins Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Kayla Bowen, Almondale Elementary School

MATERIALS and CONSUMER SCIENCE
First Place — Nathaniel Tweed, Valley Elementary School
Second Place — Darby Adler, Independence Elementary School
Third Place — Cassandra Sanchez, Palm Avenue School
Honorable Mention — Tony Staab, Rio Bravo Greeley School

PHYSICS
First Place — Paloma Santos, Laurelglen School
Second Place — Douglas Johnston, Chavez School
Third Place — Samuel Lang, Reagan School
Honorable Mention — Maveric Guzman, Thorner School

PLANT BIOLOGY
First Place — Madalyn Roach, St. Francis School
Second Place — Tara Davenport, Old River Elementary School
Third Place — Taylor Becker, Standard Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Kaleb Houston, Seibert School
Honorable Mention — Laura Jennings, El Tejon School

2008 Kern County Regional Science Fair Awards for Excellence
(grades 9-12)

Kern County Science Foundation Scholarships
Julie Baker, Desert HS
Jarod Corey, Mojave HS
Khushwinder Gill, South HS
Matthew Griffing, Taft HS
Harjot Kaur, South HS
Kaitlyn Kennett, Desert HS
Brianna Lawrence, Desert HS
Jeorgina Lopez, Arvin HS
Sheryl Parsons, Desert HS
Noor Saba, South HS
Gaylene Siguenza, Desert HS
Edith Teng, Stockdale HS

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