A record-breaking 26 young scientists from the Sequim School District participated in the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair in Bremerton on March 26-27. This record was made possible because of the efforts of two science teachers working independently out of Greywolf Elementary and Sequim Middle schools, the students, their mentors and parents.

Sequim School District students captured awards ranging from a grand prize of the Gold Medal to Honorable Mention. See more pictures taken at the science fair at the school district Web site at www.sequim.k12.wa.us.

The awards presented include:

Greywolf Elementary

• Nicole Anders – Fifth grade, Junior Division First Place Winner

• Megan Begley – Fifth grade, Junior Division Second Place Winner

• Abigail Hansted – Fifth grade, Best of Category and Junior Division First Place Winner

• Andrew Hansted – Fourth grade, Junior Division First Place Winner

• Audrey Hughes – Fourth grade, Junior Division Third Place Winner

• Tatum Jensen – Fifth grade, Best of Category and Junior Division First Place Winner

• Astrid Martin – Fourth grade, Junior Division Third Place Winner

• Mills Megert – Fourth grade, Junior Division First Place Winner

• Anna Potter – Fifth grade, Junior Division Second Place Winner

• Jesse Schleve – Fifth grade, Junior Division Third Place Winner

• Breyanna Taylor – Fifth grade, Junior Division Third Place Winner

Helen Haller Elementary School

• Sean Weber – Third grade, Junior Division First Place Winner; Project Demonstrating Natural Wonder, Curiosity and Wonder

Sequim Middle School

• Matisen Anders – Eighth grade, Junior Division Honorable Mention Winner; ASM Education Foundation Most Outstanding Exhibit in Materials Science

• Ashley Baltrusitis – Seventh grade, Junior Division Third Place Winner

• Eli Berg – Seventh grade, Junior Division First Place Winner

• Breanne Bird – Eighth grade, Junior Division Honorable Mention Winner; ASM Education Foundation Most Outstanding Exhibit in Materials Science

• Tea Engdahl – Seventh grade, Junior Division Honorable Mention Winner

• Maeve Harris – Seventh grade, Junior Division First Place Winner; Bonneville Power Administration Achievement in Energy and Environment Award

• Joseph Landoni – Eighth grade, Junior Division First Place Winner

• Katherine Landoni – Seventh grade, Junior Division First Place Winner; BAE Systems Awards (Grades 7-8)

• Brenna Neal – Seventh grade, Junior Division First Place Winner; Pacific Northwest Research Station Forestry Award

• James Reis – Eighth grade, Junior Division Third Place Winner; SPIE Optics & Photonics Award

• Zavier Zarit – Seventh grade, Junior Division Second Place; Winner Sights of Flight

Sequim High School

• Brittany Brown – Ninth grade, Senior Division Second Place Winner; Association for Women Geoscientists Student Award for Geosciences Excellence; BAE Systems Awards (Grades 9-12)

• Virginia Everett – Ninth grade, Senior Division First Place Winner; Ohio Wesleyan University Outstanding Achievement in Science Scholarships

• Emily Fowler – Ninth grade, Senior Division First Place Winner; Ohio Wesleyan University Outstanding Achievement in Science Scholarships

• Marley Iredale -12th grade, Gold Medal Winner and Senior Division First Place Winner; Water Environment Federation U.S. Regional Stockholm Junior Water Prize Award; Ohio Wesleyan University Outstanding Achievement in Science Scholarships; Graphic Design Award; The Evergreen State College Natural and Physical Science Scholarship – Best of Show; Olympic College Award for Excellence in Science (Biology)

Iredale’s project involved a population survey in Pleasant Harbor and the development of methods to eradicate an invasive species of tunicates that negatively impact shellfish stocks and native tunicate species. She found that invasive species were present in the older portions of the docking facilities and a small electric shock was the most effective method of eradication.

As gold medal winner, Iredale was invited by WSSEF to represent Washington at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair to be held in San Jose, Calif., on May 9-14. This is not the first time Iredale attended the International Science and Engineering Fair. Last year she was awarded the Intel ISEF Best of Category in Earth and Space Sciences.

These students worked on their science projects over periods of several months to a year, performing literature reviews, research planning, experimentation, engineering design, analysis, scientific discussion and conclusions. They also conducted interviews, kept journals of their work, wrote research plans and papers, constructed visual displays and made oral presentations to qualified judges at the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair.

– Ron Tognazzini, science mentor

The publicity coordinator at the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair said, “You might like to know that up until about five years ago, when Debra Beckett moved to Sequim, there were no Clallam County students participating in the WSSEF. It is largely due to Deb’s influence and encouragement that Sequim has become such a presence at the fair. You also might like to know that there only have been two students in the 53-year history of WSSEF who have won the gold medal twice. The first was Ashiya Cays Vesterby and the second is Marley Iredale, both from Sequim High School. Marley also is the first student WSSEF has sponsored to attend ISEF, who has won a first-place award at ISEF.” Congratulations, Debra.

– Annette Hanson, resource and information coordinator