54^th Annual Science and Engineering Fair Winners!

As we do every year, the Hawaii Local Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association judges and provides awards to students whose projects are in the industrial hygiene or environmental sciences categories.  By doing so, we encourage the next generation to follow in our footsteps and help improve worker and environmental health and safety.

This year, the event was held at the Hawaii Convention Center from March 28 to March 30, 2011 and drew over 700 entries.  Your judges who generously volunteered their time and their enthusiasm were:  Erwin Soria, Tavia Shiroma, and Gordon Yamamoto.  They did a wonderful job!

The winners were:

1.       Outstanding Teacher ($100):      Mr. Michael Sana of Waipahu High School who mentored 26 students this year and entered a student in 13 of the 17 categories for the senior research division.  He is a dedicated educator and we thank him for the work he does with our youth each and every day and for motivating students to enter careers in science.  (Award:  $100)

2.       Vernon Hoo Memorial Award ($200):  Kelsy K. Palsgrove, a 10^th grader at St. Andrew’s Priory.  Project:  “Noise Pollution:  The Invisible Danger”.  Her teacher is Mr. Jacob Hudson. 

3.       Overall Division Award ($50 each):  Bryce A. Kim and Alexander C. Dionne, 10^th graders at James Campbell High School.  Project:  “EMF:  The Silent Killer”.  Their teacher is Ms. April Hosino.

4.       Junior Research Award ($100):  Ryan A. Wade, an 8^th grader at St. John Vianney School.  Project:  “Good Air or Bad Air?”  His teacher is Mr. Kaukahi Severson.

5.       Junior Display Award ($100):  Anna Lee Harder, a 6^th grader at Island Pacific Academy.  Project:  “Contamination of Fruits and Vegetables Through the Use of Pesticides”.  Her teacher is Ms. Michelle Bradley.   

Congratulations to them all!  Our future looks bright!

And a big Mahalo to our volunteer judges: Erwin Soria, Tavia Shiroma, and Gordon Yamamoto!