The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts won its fourth consecutive overall state title and 25 students were recognized with individual honors, including Best in the State project, at the 2016 Southwestern Energy Arkansas Science and Engineering Fair.
Taryn Imamura of Conway won first place in the Best in State Individual Award during the competition held April 1-2 at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Samia Ismail of Fort Smith won third place in the Best in State Individual category.
Two ASMSA students qualified to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair at the state science fair. Andrew Hemund of Jonesboro and Mandolin Harris of Benton won fourth and fifth place respectively in the State Science Fair Individual category.
The Intel ISEF competition will be held May 9-13 in Phoenix. With Hemund and Harris qualifying for the competition at the state science fair, ASMSA will send five students to the international contest. Imamura, Ismail and Mikayla Hammers of Trumann qualified for the international competition at the West Central Regional Science Fair in February.
ASMSA earned the school trophy for the state title for the fourth consecutive year. Little Rock Central placed second followed by Pulaski Academy, Alma High School and Providence Academy. The title was determined by adding the number of points accumulated by the category place winners divided by the total number of projects entered in the competition.
Dr. Brian Monson, ASMSA’s Science Department chair and physics instructor, is the director for the West Central Regional Science Fair, in which ASMSA students compete before participating in state. He credited the school’s curriculum for the student’s success.
“ASMSA's curriculum is focused on science research so it is not surprising that our students did so well in the state science fair,” Monson said. “An ASMSA student has won a major award at the International Science and Engineering Fair for six of the last seven years.”
Individual category winners from ASMSA included:
First place: Emily Pavolic of Hot Springs, Behavioral and Social Science; Andrew Hemund of Jonesboro, Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical; Mandolin Harris of Benton, Environmental Sciences; Calah Mershon of Altus, Mathematics; and Samantha Losten of Conway; Plant Sciences.
Second place: Julian Ervin of North Little Rock, Animal Science; Maddie Burke of Little Rock; Chemistry; Martin Boerwinkle of El Dorado, Computer Science; Jessica Maruri of Van Buren, Mathematics; and Bonnie Champion of Danville, Plant Sciences.
Third place: Chelsey Vermillion of McCaskill, Behavioral and Social Science; William Yang of Little Rock, Computer Science; Tristan Tompkins of Springdale, Earth and Planetary Science; Liam Johnson of Pearcy, Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical; Jacob Dedman of Pine Bluff, Engineering: Materials and Bioengineering; Sam Zargari of Smackover, Mathematics; and Sasin Payakachat of Little Rock, Medicine and Health.
Honorable Mention: Yeongjoon Hwang of Jonesboro, Animal Science; Jasmin Fleuranvil of Mellwood, Behavioral and Social Science; Hannah Chipman of Osceola, Behavioral and Social Science; Leyton Gassaway of Paragould, Chemistry; Monish Shukla of White Hall, Environmental Management; Anna Gayle Griffiths of Bryant, Environmental Sciences; and Nathan Daniell of Arkadelphia, Physics and Astronomy.
Special Awards announced included:
• Emily Pavlovic of Hot Springs, American Psychological Association for best project related to psychology;
• Samantha Losten of Conway, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission for best project that investigates the flora and fauna of Arkansas;
• Mandolin Harris of Benton, Association of Women Geoscientists for the top project by a female student in a project related to geoscience, and Stockholm Junior Water Prize for top water-related project;
• Bonnie Champion of Danville, Edmond E. Griffin Award for best project that demonstrates creativity in the life sciences;
• Calah Merson of Altus, Mu Alpha Theta for first place project in mathematics;
• Taryn Imamura of Conway, Sigma Xi for outstanding student research;
• U.S. Air Force Award for Jessica Maruri of Van Buren, Martin Boerwinkle of El Dorado, Andrew Hemund of Jonesboro and Calah Merson of Altus for first and second place projects in engineering, physics, mathematics and computer science; and
• Tristan Tompkins of Springdale, U.S. Geological Survey for best geology-related project.