Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) held its eighth annual History, Industry, Technology and Science (HITS) Expo on Saturday, March 9, at St. Charles High School.
The Expo included an array of student science and history fair projects on display for judging. The science fair projects were categorized by Behavioral/Medicine and Health Science, Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Science, Life Science, and Physics and Astronomy.
Special awards were also given to eligible students.
The following students received awards for their science fair projects. Skylan Brassell, an eighth-grade student from the Neighborhood Creative Arts Center, was named the grand prize winner for her project, “Can Turbidity be used to Indicate the Presence of E. coli and other Pathogenic Microbes in 4 Potomac River Tributaries?”
Middle/high school level Division
First-place awards
. Gianna Dynes, senior, North Point High School, “The Effect of Essential Oils on E. coli,” behavioral/medicine health science category.
. Ethan Ben Gregory Escasinas, sixth grade, Theodore G. Davis Middle School, “Conductivity Conundrum,” chemistry category.
. Yaazin Shah, seventh grade, Neighborhood Creative Arts Center, “ Stop Motion Using Play Doh vs Clay,” computer science category.
. Logan Boswell, eighth grade, Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, “Tunnel Mirror Illusion,” engineering category.
. Skylan Brassell, eighth grade, Neighborhood Arts, “Can Turbidity be used to Indicate the Presence of E. coli and other Pathogenic Microbes in 4 Potomac River Tributaries?,”environmental science category.
Second-place awards
. Amna Shah, senior, North Point, “Testing Plants for Antimicrobial Resistance Against E. coli,” behavioral/medicine and health category.
. Christina Simms, senior, “The Determination of the Cause of Human Allergies to Dogs,” North Point, behavioral/medicine and health category.
. Isabella Wilburg, eighth grade, Matthew Henson Middle School, “Is It Worth It?,” chemistry category.
Elementary Division
Frist-place awards
. Mason Whetzel, fourth grade, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School, “Right-Brained or Left-Brained,” behavioral/medicine health science category.
. Eddie Sommella, third grade, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, “How Does Water Temperature Affect the Cleaning Power of Laundry Detergents?,” chemistry category.
. Ethan Waiters, third grade, Mary B. Neal Elementary School, “Bye Bye Battery,” computer science category.
. Samriddhi Bhattrai, third grade, Arthur Middleton Elementary School, “Astronomy,” earth and space science category.
. Megan Antos, fourth grade, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School “Which Shaped Structure is the Most Stable During an Earthquake?,” engineering category.
. Emma Vo, fourth grade, Billingsley Elementary School, “How Does a Rain Garden Affect Pollution Reduction?” environmental science category.
. Sara Dhakal, fourth grade, Berry Elementary School, “Will Seeds Germinate in Different Liquids?,” life science category.
. Erena Panjikkaran, fourth grade, J.C. Parks Elementary School, “Unraveling the Wonders of Magnet, Electromagnet, and Electromagnet Induction,” physics and astronomy category.
Second-place awards
. Jan Margaux Magauay, fourth grade, Neal, “Chew it for a Lung Life,” behavioral/medicine health science category.
. Maci Herscher, fifth grade, T.C. Martin Elementary School, “Growing Gummy Bears,” chemistry category.
. Fatima Beacham, fifth grade, Neighborhood Creative Arts, Setting Sail for Stability engineering category.
. Shaylee House, fifth grade, Mary H. Matula Elementary School, “Breaking Wind,” environmental science category.
. Megan Nelson, third grade, William A. Diggs Elementary School, “How Much Water Do Plants Need to Grow Healthy and Strong?,” life science category.
. Cathryn Moore, third grade, Higdon, “How Does Wing Size Affect Paper Airplane Flight Distance?,” physics and astronomy category.
Below is a list of students who received a special award for their science fair projects.
. Skylan Brassell, eighth grade, Neighborhood Creative Arts, high school category, from the College of Southern Maryland.
. Ethan Ben Gregory Escasinas, sixth grade, Davis, middle school category, from the College of Southern Maryland.
. Emma Vo, fourth grade, Billingsley, elementary school category, from the College of Southern Maryland.
. Logan Boswell, eighth grade, Stoddert, middle school category, from the La Plata Lions Club.
. Amna Shah, senior, North Point, high school category, from the La Plata Garden Club.
. Skylan Brassell, eighth grade, Neighborhood Creative Arts, middle school category, from the La Plata Garden Club.
. Emma Vo, fourth grade, Billingsley, elementary school category, from the La Plata Garden Club.
. Skylan Brassell, eighth grade, Neighborhood Creative Arts, senior award, from the Waste Water Operators of America.