Catherine Bubser and her project “Biogas Digester”
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. – Catherine Bubser of Northern High captured the Senior Grand Award at the 2018 Calvert County Science Fair for her project “Alternative Energy: Biogas Digester.” Isabelle Du Bois of Southern Middle won the Junior Grand Award for her project “Lift—Full of Hot Air?” Both winners received a plaque, $100 from Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS), and a $100 Visa Gift Card from the Educational Systems Federal Credit Union. Catherine also received a $750 Scholarship from the Southern Maryland Association of Realtors.
Dr. Daniel D. Curry, Superintendent, said, “We can’t help but be proud of our exemplary science students and their teachers whose hard work and keen minds are demonstrated here.”
Other top honors went to Nathan Hayes, Jim Kong, and Will Longsworth of Northern High. They won the Award of Excellence and $50 from CCPS for their project “Iago: The Study of Neural Nets to Play Othello.” Zachary Childress (Southern Middle), Dezmon Estep (Patuxent High), and Molly Shipley (Patuxent High) each won an Award of Merit and $25 from CCPS.
The Science Fair projects were judged on challenge of project, research conducted, scientific approach, collection of data, conclusions, written work, oral interview, exhibit, effort, and significance of project. All projects were judged by three professionals from the STEM community.
In addition to the Grand, Excellence, and Merit awards, STEM professional organizations presented awards in special categories. These awards are judged independently by the organizations according to their own criteria.
The awards in special categories are:
Calvert County Department of Economic Development
Projects Related to Agriculture
- $50-Zachary Childress (Southern Middle) “Erosion Stopping Fence”
- $50-Catherine Bubser (Northern High) “Alternative Energy: Biogas Digester”
Calvert County Waterman’s Association
Projects Related to Chesapeake Bay Watershed and Environmental Impacts
- $50-Zachary Childress (Southern Middle) “Erosion Stopping Fence”
- $100-Catherine Bubser (Northern High) “Alternative Energy: Biogas Digester”
Mathnasium of Dunkirk
The project that demonstrated the best use of mathematical principles received a 3-month scholarship to Mathnasium in Dunkirk and $100
- Amanda Curran and Margaret Giggey (Calvert High)
Southern Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Board, Inc.
- $50- Catherine Bubser (Northern High) “Alternative Energy: Biogas Digester”
The Johns Hopkins University Society of Engineering Alumni
- 1st Place $100 Gift Card -Catherine Bubser (Northern High) “Alternative Energy: Biogas Digester”
- 2nd Place $50 Gift Card- Isabelle Du Bois (Southern Middle) “Lift – Full of Hot Air?”
- 3rd Place $25- Dezmon Estep (Patuxent High) “The Scoliosis Back Brace”
Honorable Mention Certificates:
- Kenzie Wheelock (Windy Hill Middle) “How are Robotics Shaping our Future?”
- Noelia Gonzales (Calvert Middle) “What is the best way to stop Lava Flows?”
- Jackson Goehle, Ahnaf Anowar, and Kyle Brady (Windy Hill Middle) “Egg Drop Design Project”
The Patuxent Partnership
Aeronautics/Aerospace
- Junior-$50-Jackson Goehle, Ahnaf Anowar, and Kyle Brady (Windy Hill Middle) “Egg Drop Design Project”
- Senior-$100-Catherine Bubser (Northern High) “Alternative Energy: Biogas Digester”
Electrical/Electronics
- Junior-$50-Kenzie Wheelock (Windy Hill Middle) “How are Robotics Shaping our Future?”
- Senior-$100-Nathan Hayes, Jim Kong, Will Longsworth (Northern High) “Iago: The Study of Neural Nets to Play Othello”
Environmental/Biological
- Junior-$50-Zachary Childress (Northern High) “Erosion Stopping Fence”
- Senior-$100-Nate Carey (Northern High) “The Effects of Light on Fruit Flies”
Unmanned Systems, Chief Engineer Award
- Junior-$50-Isabelle Du Bois (Southern Middle) “Lift – Full of Hot Air?”
- Senior-$100-Olivia Brague and Jade Durham (Northern High) “Oh Snap! Rubber Band Tensile Strength”
Washington DC Chapter of the American Meteorology Society
Certificate of Outstanding Achievement and Invitation to Banquet
- Isabelle Du Bois (Southern Middle) “Lift-Full of Hot Air?”
Water and Waste Operators Association, MD, DE, DC
- $100-Molly Shipley (Patuxent High) “The Effect of Hand Washing vs. Hand Sanitizer in Bacterial Growth”
- $50-Zachary Childress (Southern Middle) “Erosion Stopping Fence”