2010 California State Science Fair Winners Announced

Students, Parents and Teachers Gather to Hear the Results

LOS ANGELES, May 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Winners of the 2010 California State Science Fair were announced during ceremonies that took place May 18, 2010 at the California Science Center.  This year's fair drew 960 students from 394 schools across the state, with finalists selected by a volunteer pool of over 300 scientists and engineers from private industry and higher education.  Students took home a combined total of over $60,000 in cash prizes.

Northrop Grumman was a major benefactor of the 2010 California State Science Fair, providing essential funding for this year's event, along with additional support from THE MUSES of the California Science Center Foundation, Time Warner Cable, and The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation.

Top Awards

Kaavya N. Jayram, a 10th grade student from Sravani Academi, San Jose (Santa Clara County), was selected for the Patricia Beckman Project of the Year—Senior Division Award and received a $10,000 cash prize.  Her project was titled "Crank 0 Partitions and the Parity of the Partition Function."  Natalie Ng, an 8th grade student from Challenger School, Sunnyvale (Santa Clara County), was chosen for the Patricia Beckman Project of the Year—Junior Division Award and received a $5,000 cash prize.  Her project was titled "A Conductometric Biosensor for the Detection of Food-Borne Pathogens." Two special committees, one for each division, reviewed all first place, winning projects from every subject category in order to select the best project in each division.  The awards are given by Patricia Beckman in honor of her parents Dr. and Mrs. Arnold O. Beckman.

Anna K. Simpson, a senior at Patrick Henry Senior High School in San Diego was named California State Science Fair Student of the Year and was presented with a $1,000 cash prize.  The project entry was titled "Local Layering of Images with a Natural User Interface." This award is presented to the high school senior who, in the opinion of the judges, best exemplifies the qualities necessary for success in science. Anna was also selected last year for the Patricia Beckman Project of the Year—Senior Division Award.

Kim Miller, a teacher at Goleta Valley Junior High School in Goleta (Santa Barbara County) was named California State Science Fair Teacher of the Year—Junior Division, and John-Emmanuel Shirajian, a teacher at Ribet Academy in Los Angeles was named California State Science Fair Teacher of the Year—Senior Division.  Each received a $2,000 cash prize.

Jeffrey N. Rudolph, President and CEO of the California Science Center, commented, "So much of the study of science is spent memorizing facts, which is not fun.  When students can experiment and explore by creating their own projects, they're doing what science is all about and they love it."  The Science Center's involvement with the annual event dates back more than 50 years and is in keeping with its efforts to stimulate and nurture public interest in science, math and technology.

In addition to the top awards, 261 students placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and Honorable Mention in the Category Awards.  A complete list of Category Award winners as well as information on recipients of Special and Recognition awards can be viewed at www.californiasciencecenter.org/CSSF/.  

California Science Center is located at 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles.  Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.  Admission to the exhibits is free.  IMAX Theater tickets range from $5.00 to $8.25.  Both the Science Center and IMAX Theater are wheelchair accessible.  Visitors can enter the parking lot at 39th/Exposition Park Drive and Figueroa Street.  Parking is $8/car, $25 for buses or oversized vehicles. For general information, phone (323) SCIENCE or visit www.californiasciencecenter.org.

SOURCE California Science Center