Local students win awards at state science fair

Students from Flathead High School, Helena Flats School and Deer Park School earned special awards from the 66th annual Montana Science Fair, which was held virtually this year due to the pandemic.

Flathead High School freshman Keanu Ng was awarded the Stockholm Junior Water Prize for his project, “Analyzing the Efficacy of Coconut Oil to Remove Microplastics From Water.”

The Peterson Grand Award was given to two seventh-graders whose projects took first place in their grade level for the biological and physical categories, respectively. They are Teagen Flint of Deer Park School for the project, “Effect of Disinfectants on Bacterial Growth,” and Jakoby Isles of Helena Flats for the project, “Beware Beware EMF Is Everywhere Part 2.”

Flathead High School sophomores Emily Mitchell and Kenna Anderson earned the Grand Award Division 1 — second place, for their project, “Effect of Lemna Minor on Caffeine Levels in Freshwater Ecosystems,” qualifying it to advance to the international level.

The state science fair, hosted by the University of Montana, was held on March 31. A total of 103 middle and high school students from 17 schools around the state competed in the virtual fair, which meant participation was down. In a typical year, the fair draws nearly 600 students.

Other local results are as follows:

Division 1 (grades 9-12)

Environmental Sciences

Gold ribbon — Emily Mitchell and Kenna Anderson, Flathead High School, “Effect of Lemna Minor on Caffeine Levels in Freshwater Ecosystems,”

Keanu Ng, Flathead High School, “Analyzing the Efficacy of Coconut Oil to Remove Microplastics From Water.”

Microbiology

Gold ribbon — Jack Gannon, Braden Anderson and Ben Davidson, seniors at Flathead High School, “Application of UV Lights to Sterilize Aerosolized Bacteriophage.”

Physics and Astronomy

Silver ribbon — Dyson Linden, freshman at Flathead High School, “Shedding a Little Light on the Subject: How Liquids Move Through Mask Fabrics.”

Division 2 (grades 6-8)

Seventh grade

Biological

Silver Ribbon — Teagen Flint, Deer Park School, “Effect of Disinfectants on Bacterial Growth”

Tayvia Nelson, Helena Flats School, “‘Hued,’ knew it affects your mood?”

Physical

Silver ribbon — Jakoby Isles, Helena Flats, “Beware Beware EMF Is Everywhere,” and “Beware Beware EMF Is Everywhere Part 2.”

Eighth grade

Physical

Silver Ribbon — Airk Counsell, Helena Flats, “Absorb Power.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.