May was a banner month for student participation in State and international competitions, and the District is proud to celebrate students’ accomplishments.
Project Citizen
Students in 7th grade classrooms in St. Lucie County have a unique opportunity to learn how our government works in their Civics classrooms. Each year they identify a local or State issue, research the levels of government needed to be influenced, the positives and negatives of possible solutions, and ultimately create an action plan. Students learn about public policy and the interaction of citizens and the government through their research.
This year, 18 schools participated at the District Showcase in January and three projects were sent to the first round of the State competition. Their research was displayed in the Capitol Building where Florida law makers has the opportunity to view each project. All three groups from St. Lucie were invited to compete in the State finals held in Palm Beach Gardens in May. The judges’ feedback was very positive and each group was commended on their passion, poise, and preparation.
Lincoln Park Academy
Yegor Bushnev
Mathew Mathew
Sam Chellis
Caleb Chellis
Drew Gale
Manatee Academy
Lennis McLean
Josalene Sanchez
Vivian Lugo
Mackenzie Selimi
Dylan Fox-Carter
Nader Abunaser
Mikabelle Joseph
Bianca Cortamilia
Samuel Gaines Academy
Analyesse Stockton
Tamya Miller
Nancy Charles
Baille Falzone
Andre Mcfarlane
Jaryxa Heredia
History Day
Each year students in 6th, 8th, 10th, and 11th grade research historical topics under an annual theme. This year’s theme was Taking a Stand in History. Students were able to showcase their work in 5 categories: Exhibit, Documentary, Website, Performance, or Research Paper. The District Fair was held in January, and 21 school participated with a total of 259 students.
The State History Day competition was held at Tallahassee Community College on May 8th. Over one thousand students competed with over 650 entries. Of those, 45 students with 30 entries were from St. Lucie County.
“Angel” Vo from Port St. Lucie High School was awarded the Florida Heritage Award and the Outstanding County Award for her website on the environmentalist Marjorie Harris Carr and her stand against the cross-Florida barge canal.
The students who attended the State History Day competition are already thinking of next year’s theme which is Conflict and Compromise in History.
FGMS
Cathia Oge
Mya Forestal
Samuel Porter
FPCHS
Wilner Joseph
Zaine Parlor
Tru Rotolo
Elize Starr
NPK8
Matthew Pinto
Brandon Quijada
Brianne Yates
Palm Pointe
Delaney Cassidy
Jackson Martin
Joshua Rios
Taylor Milton
Summer Melrose
Grace Lloyd
Gabriella Lawrence
Ashley Tucker
Zandry Epan-Ramos
PSLHS
Andre Fernandez
Isa Alvarez
Maysen Jackson
(Thuytran) “Angel” Vo
Jamal Paul
Q’Markis Brooks
Jelisa Hines
SLWK8
John Melvin
Alyssa Bischof
Jessica Hunt
Kayla Permann
Rania Khawaja
SOMS
Victor Silva
WGK8
Grace Welby
Mariana Solanilla
Taylor Mealing
Hailey Mangio
State and International Science Fairs
Based on the project selection criteria from the Regional Fair, top-ranking students were selected to advance to the State Fair. Escorted by their chaperones, they ventured from St. Lucie County to Lakeland for the three-day event. Once there, they had the opportunity for their projects to be judged, to network with others, to engage in inquiry and problem solving, and to glean ideas for future exploration.
Haniya Shareef, a senior at Lincoln Park Academy, is no stranger to innovation as her ratings at this year’s State Science and Engineering STEM Fair and Competition prove. Her individual project, “Molecular Characterization and Enhanced Efficacy of a Novel Host-Specified Bioherbicide Candidate for Cyperus Rotundus T,” entered in the Plant Sciences Category was awarded First Place and the Division Grand Award. In addition, Shareef was one of only eight students throughout the entire state of Florida whose project was selected as Best in Show. The other St. Lucie County students participating in the State Fair also returned to the District laden with accolades for their ingenuity and creativity.
Of the 14 participating St. Lucie County students, 13 walked across the stage to receive special awards, categorical place recognition awards, or placement awards. Congratulations to:
Haniya Shareef, Lincoln Park Academy (Senior Division)
Individual
Plant Sciences
“Molecular Characterization and Enhanced Efficacy of a Novel Host-Specified Bioherbicide Candidate for Cyperus Rotundus”
First Place, Division Grand Award, Best in Show (1 of 8 to receive this distinction)
Special Awards: Scholarship, New College of Florida; Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services Award; Society for In Vitro Biology Certificate
Catherine Horger, Lincoln Park Academy (Senior Division)
Individual
Cellular/Molecular Biology & Biochemistry
“The Effect of Indole-3-Acetic Production by Lactobacillus Acidophilus”
Second Place
Shreya Reddy, Lincoln Park Academy (Senior Division)
Individual
Microbiology
“Improving Health of Beneficial Insects through Ingestion of Nonpathogenic Indovirus”
Third Place
Riley Hogge and Alexis Moreira, Fort Pierce Westwood High School (Senior Division)
Team
Physics & Astronomy
“Catching Waves”
Fourth Place
Sreya Banik, Lincoln Park Academy (Senior Division)
Individual
Mathematical & Computational
“Application of Chaos Game Representation of Genes to Measure the Predictability Using Random DNA Sequences to Determine if the Sequence is of Kinase of Phosphatase Protein”
Honorable Mention
Jillian Markle, Lincoln Park Academy (Senior Division)
Individual
Earth and Environment
“Ugh! Another Invasive Weevil in Florida”
Recognition
Special Award: Florida Association of Science Supervisors Award
Callie Zheng, Lincoln Park Academy, (Senior Division)
Individual
Cellular/Molecular Biology & Biochemistry
“Can Human Fecal Specific Primers Be Used to Detect Fecal Contamination in Sediment and Muck Samples?”
Recognition
Special Award: Tomolka Regional Science and Engineering Fair Award
Jack Krasulak, St. Andrews (Junior Division)
Individual
Engineering
“Mitigating the Effects of IED Explosion Through Novel Hull Design”
First Place, Division Grand Award
Special Awards: Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Service Florida Engineering Foundation Award, Collier Regional Science and Engineering Fair Award, ASM Materials Foundation Certificate, Broadcom Masters Award, US Navy Science Award
*Best In Fair Award at the Star Science Fair
Riley Hamilton, Olivet (Junior Division)
Individual
Physics and Astronomy
“Testing Fluids for Geothermal Heating and Air Conditioning”
Third Place, Division Grand Award
Conner O’Sullivan, Forest Grove Middle School (Junior Division)
Individual
Earth & Environmental
“Recharge, Repower, and Restore Energy”
Fourth Place
Asha Budhai, Oak Hammock K-8 School (Junior Division)
Individual
Behavioral Social Sciences
“Drop the Pressure”
Honorable Mention
Mason Kozac, Lincoln Park Academy (Junior Division)
Individual
Plant Sciences
“Savanna Mint”
Recognition
International Science Fair: Haniya Shareef and Shreya Reddy
At the International Science Fair, Haniya Shareef was awarded 4th place for her project, and Shreya Reddy also made a positive presentation to the international judges in Los Angeles at this prestigious gathering of genius from around the world.