Research by Shwe Win of Hilo High School on rapid ohia death was among the top winners at this year’s Hawaii District Science and Engineering Fair.
This year’s fair was hosted in February by the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Win and fellow Hilo High student Elizabeth Atkinson won the opportunity to attend the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair this May in Phoenix. Nyra Dee was lauded with the teacher award in the high school division.
Overall, 80 students competed in this year’s fair, with judges exclaiming that it was one of the most competitive years to date. Rounding out the top projects in the high school division were Lela DeVine from Waiakea High (third place) and Jared Goodwin from Hilo High (honorable mention).
In the junior division, Paul Varricatt from Hilo Intermediate School took first place, Taarini Godbole from Hilo Intermediate was second, Abigail Keith from Waiakea Intermediate School was third and Rachel Tao from Waiakea Intermediate was fourth.
Twenty-four students also claimed the chance to represent the Hawaii District at the Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair in April: Win, Atkinson, DeVine, Goodwin, Xavier Tablit, Ina Klasner, Paul Varricatt, Godbole, Keith, Tao, Joyce Heaster, Jessica Chen, Clara Endriss, Halo Baldwin, Marianne Martinez, Tevin Atwal, Irie Sakai, Kai Chun, William Lockhart, Beatrice Kim-Lee, Rylan Colbert, Ocean Irie Hilton, Eun Chong (Iris) Kim and Michael Mitsuda.
The Hawaii District Science and Engineering Fair is a joint project sponsored by The Robert and Alice Fujimoto Foundation, UH-Hilo, Caroline M. Shipman Foundation, Hapai Enterprises and Science FUNdamentals, Hawaii Electric Light Co., UH-Hilo Sigma Xi Chapter, state Department of Education, Hawaii Academy of Science, TMT Observation Corp., Big Island Candies and Kamehameha Schools Hawaii.
Full listings of all agency awards and project titles are available on the Hawaii District Science and Engineering Fair Facebook page.