Lewiston High School Science Fair prizewinners announced

Plaques, medals and more than $1,200 will be awarded for the projects deemed the best at the third annual Lewiston High School Science Fair held Thursday, May 9th. Award-winning students will be presented at the high school’s “Night of Excellence” on June 3.

Cash prizes were designated for best-of-fair and for first, second and third place in three grade-level categories. Prize money was provided in part by Bates College through a Bates Science Education Outreach Grant funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Other awards will go to students who did not place in the top 10 but demonstrated significant effort and knowledge in their projects and presentations.

Best-of-fair went to Tarrah Bowen, a 10th grader whose project examined the effects of caffeinated soda on blood pressure. She competed with more than 400 other projects for best-of-fair.

Elisha Armour and Sara Choate received first prize in the upperclass division (11th and 12th grade) for a project that determined which location in the high school harbored the most bacteria. First prize in the 10th grade division went to Renee Castonguay for a project examining the impact of music on thought processes. Nathaniel Jilette received first prize in the 9th grade division for his study of erosion.

In the upperclass division, second prize went to Tiffany Boisvert and Elise Jack for a project on diabetes. Second prize in 10th grade went to Ashley Nadeau and Amanda Toussaint, who looked at chlorine content in drinking water, and in 9th grade the prize was awarded to Roxanne Healey and Amanda Sasseville for their comparison of the strengths of various glues.

Third prize in the upperclass category went to Kari Gronin for the project on stress in medical professions. In the 10th grade, this prize was awarded to Alexis Handy and Katie Lauze for their comparison of the drying rates of nail polishes. In the 9th grade, Matt Parker and Tony Travaglini received third prize for their investigation of the aerodynamic efficiency of different fabrics.

The five auxiliary awards went to:

Kyle Dupuis, 9th grade, for studying computer processor efficiency;

Deneiges Labbe and Kat Ustach, 11th grade, for studying artificial cartilage;

Matt Chateauvert and Audrey Ellis, 12th grade, for a project on the healing of bones;

Kerri Smith, 12th grade, for investigating bipolar disorder;

and Travis Lowe, 12th grade, for his project on human evolution.

The starting time for the “Night of Excellence” will be announced later.