On March 4–8, AHS granted awards to deserving hydrologic and water projects at the annual Southern Arizona Science and Engineering Fair. A total of $850 was awarded to students in grades from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. Thanks to our 2023 volunteer judges — Sarah Sayles, Dick Thompson, and David Barnes.
2023 AHS Winners
Project: Hoo Is There | Student: Jane Olsson
Grade: Pre-K | School: Olsson homeschool
Teacher / category: Jeannette Olsson / Animal Kingdom
Awards: SARSEF grand award, first place; STEM Super Heroes; AHS – $25 and certificate
Project: Water Harvesting Playscapes | Students: Vanessa Schiess’s class
Grade: K | School: J Robert Hendricks Elementary School
Teacher / category: Vanessa Schiess / Plants and the Environment
Awards: SARSEF grand award, first place; AHS – $25 and certificate
Project: Erosion Explosion | Students: Cassie Konrath’s class
Grade: K | School: Fructhendler Elementary School
Teacher / category: Cassie Konrath / Plants and the Environment
Awards: SARSEF grand award, first place; AHS – $25 and certificate
Project: A Trap to Solve a Fishy Mystery | Student: Ed Olsson
Grade: 4 | School: Olsson homeschool
Teacher / category: Jeannette Olsson / Animal Kingdom
Awards: AHS – $25 and certificate
Project: Which Sponges Absorb More Water? | Student: Devin Chau
Grade: 5 | School: Sonoran Science Academy
Teacher / category: Cristina Hernandez / Energy and Change
Awards: AHS – $100 and certificate
Project: Green Infrastructure | Student: Mia Sofia Melendez
Grade: 7 | School: Imago Dei
Teacher / category: Kateri and Sean Raglow / Plants and the Environment
Awards: SARSEF grand award, first place; AHS – $100 and certificate
Project: Water Sample Collection Device | Student: Alex Provenzano
Grade: 8 | School: Emily Gray Junior High
Teacher / category: Lara Huetter / Plants and the Environment
Awards: SARSEF grand award, second place; AHS – $100 and certificate
Project: Automatic Aquaponics | Student: Julie Rodriguez
Grade: 9 | School: Andrada Polytechnic High School
Teacher / category: Tiffany Newton / Applied Technology
Awards: SARSEF grand award, first place; Simon Strauss Engineering Award; AHS first place (high
school) – $150 and certificate
Project: Agrivoltaic Efficiency in Selected Lettuce Varieties During Drought Conditions | Students: Brandon Martz and Henry Roth Gordon
Grade: 11 | School: Catalina Foothills High School
Teacher / category: Tiffany Bialis / Environmental Studies
Awards: SARSEF grand award, second place; Science Champion Award; AHS – $150 and certificate
Project: Turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids and Water Transparency in an Arizona Lake | Student: Preston Strickler
Grade: 10 | School: Sabino High School
Teacher / category: Ann Chenevert-Steffler / Environmental Studies
Awards: SARSEF grand award, third Place; NASA Earth System Science Award, Environmental Awareness Award – first place, Award of Excellence; AHS – $150 and certificate
More Information
Information about this year’s winners and all 2023 SARSEF winners can be found on SARSEF’s website.