SARSEF 2021 Winners!

On March 1st to 6th, AHS, with cooperative funding from the CAP and AHS Foundation, gave awards to deserving hydrologic and water projects at the annual Southern Arizona Science and Engineering Fair. A total of $700 was awarded to students in grades 7–12.

This year’s winners are presented below.

Tucson High Magnet School

Student(s): Ellis Selznic
Project: A Synthesis of Indian Monsoon Records Over the Last Glacial Cycle: Insights from the Bay of Bengal
Teacher / Category: Jeremy Jonas, Earth and Environmental Science
All Awards: SARSEF Grand Award: 2nd Place, Future Leaders in Sustainability and Social Justice – cash award and certificate, AHS Award – $100 check and certificate, Outstanding Achievement for Scientific Excellence in Atmospheric, Oceanic or Hydrologic Sciences – $25 check, certificate and the name of science fair winner in the December issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS)

University High School

Student(s): Jordan Pendleton Casto and Lily Pendleton Casto
Project: The Effects of Soil Rockiness on Percent of Soil Erosion
Teacher / Category: Elyse Wexler, Earth and Environmental Science
All Awards: SARSEF Grand Award: 2nd Place, AHS Award – $100 check and certificate, Student Award for Geoscience Excellence – $25 check and certificate

Student(s):  Dannica Guerette
Project:  Can a Small Levee Decrease the Height of Water in a Dip During a Flash Flood?
Teacher / Category: Elyse Wexler, Energy and Environmental Engineering
All Awards:  AHS Award – $100 check and certificate

Student(s): Hannah Jackson
Project: The Effect of Weather Forecasting Methods on the Accuracy of Forecasts
Teacher / Category: Elyse Wexler, Earth and Environmental Science
All Awards: AHS Award – $100 check and certificate

Student(s): Nathaniel van der Leeuw
Project: Climate’s Effect on Xerophytes and Subtropical Species
Teacher / Category: Elyse Wexler, Earth and Environmental Science
All Awards: 1st Geospatial Excellence, Awarded by The Map Lady – $75 check and certificate, Excellence in Scientific Research – $50 cash and certificate, Honorable Mention – $25, certificate and one-year family membership to Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society, AHS Award – $100 check and certificate, Mu Alpha Theta Award for Challenging, Original and Creative Problem Solving in Mathematics – $25 check and certificate, NASA Earth System Science Award – $25 check and certificate, Saguaro National Park Award – $100 check and certificate

Vail Academy and High School

Student(s): Kameelat Mustapha
Project: Hydroelectric Energy
Teacher / Category: Brett Batty, Energy and Environmental Engineering
All Awards: AHS Award – $100 check and certificate

Student(s):  Mason Fosdick
Project:   Soil Water Repellency (SWR) a Case Study of Humic Acid Polymerization After a Wildfire
Teacher / Category: Elaine MacKenzie, Earth and Environmental Science
All Awards: SARSEF Grand Award: 1st Place, AHS Award – $100 check and certificate,
Leonore and Jack Mayer Memorial Award – $50 check and certificate, Polymer Chemistry Innovations Award – $250 check and certificate, TEP Brilliant Mind Award, TOP Middle School Project – $750 check and certificate