Shareef’s Project Ranks as Best in Show

FORT PIERCE, FL – Haniya Shareef, a junior 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,” 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.

 

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 judging event.  Once there, they had the opportunity to network with others, engage in inquiry and problem solving, and glean ideas for future exploration.  According to one of the chaperones and local Science Fair Coordinator Paul Reif, “There were over 875 projects being judged at this year’s event, and I am always fascinated by the culture of positive collaboration as students share their thought processes and reflections with one another.  I look forward to this each year!”

 

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

 

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

 

Shareef and Reddy will advance with their projects to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May.  This global event will be held in Los Angeles, California.

 

Author: Lydia Martin

Staff - (Changed 4/20/2023 8:56:31 PM)