The Mendocino County Science Fair took place on Saturday, April 26th with strong representation from Willits Charter School. The quality of this year’s projects was commented upon by many of the judges and fair-goers. Following in the tradition of its past science strength, Willits Charter took home 17 medals, the Evelyn Smith Excellence in Science Award in both the Junior Division and Senior Division, and the California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS) Award.

 

Emerson Glassey tied with Bryan Pearn and Adriana Lynch for the Evelyn Smith Excellence in Science Award. Bryan Pearn and Adriana Lynch won first place in the Life Science B category and the CAPS Award with their project, “Why Is There No Water In Alder Creek”. Bryan’s family wondered why the creek flowing through their property had been drying up the past few years when historically it had flowed year-round. Bryan and Adriana tested the flow of water in about 10 places up Alder Creek. They determined that the creek was drying up because of illegal water diversions. Of the 21 diversions on Alder Creek, only one is permitted.

 

Alisa Smith, an eighth grader, won first place in the Junior Division Earth Science category and the Junior Division Evelyn Smith Excellence in Science Award. She was also a runner-up for the CAPS award with her project entitled, “She Sieves Sea Sand By the Sea Shore”. Alisa’s project explored whether sand grains are larger on north-facing beaches versus south-facing beaches. Her research concluded that the north- facing beaches’ sand grains were larger.

 

Other Willits Charter School Junior Division winners included; Daniel Cook, Ryan Rendon, July Perreault, Eli Erlick, Codi Hirsch, Alejandra Alvarez, Ryan Warriner, and Jeremy Derickson. Additional Senior Division winners were; James Warner, Ariana Foster, Anna Gaona, Thea Grusky-Foley, Elizabeth Hernandez, Aubrey Hincker-Tye, Valle Rogers, Tyler Howell, and Jon Hoppner.

 

The California State Science Fair takes place in mid-May at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. WCS students who qualified for State Science Fair are; Alejandra Alvarez, Eli Erlick, Anna Gaona, Emerson Glassey, Thea Grausky-Foley, Codi Hirsch, Tyler Howell, Adriana Lynch, Bryan Pearn, July Perreault, Valle Rogers, Alisa Smith, James Warner, and Ryan Warriner. Congratulations to all these students, and thank yous to their parents for their support and to their hard-working science teachers!