Four Corners Regional Science Engineering Fair Placements

GRANTS, NM – Students from around the region gathered to participate in this year’s Four Corners Regional Science Engineering Fair that took place on March 7-9.

The following are the students who placed in this year’s Four Corners Regional Science Engineering Fair in the Junior and Senior Divisions: Junior Division Runner-Up, in Microbiology, Isabella Halley for her project, “Magic Bacteria – Exploring Bacterial Transformation & Antibiotics”, from New Mexico Connections Academy.

Junior Division Grand Award Winner, in Medicine & Health, Lucas Rychener for his project, “How does Caffeine Affect the Regeneration of Planaria”, from St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School.

Senior Division 2nd Alternate ISEF, in Zoology, Gracie Metzger for her project, “Grasshopper & Orthopteran Identification Using Proteins Part 2”, from Grants High School.

Senior Division 1st Alternate to ISEF, in Environmental, MacKynzy Hunter for her project, “Let’s Talk Dirty, (Water)”, from Grants High School.

Senior Division Representative to ISEF, in Computer Science, Faith Valdez for her project, AS: Trainer: American Sign Language Programmed Visual Learning”, from Grants High School.

Senior Division Representative to ISEF, in Physics, Brandi Bassett for her project, “Glowing, Glowing, Gone”, from Grants High School.

Every year at the 4 Corners Regional Science Fair they also Host the 4 Corners Regional New Mexico Jr. Academy of Science Paper Competition Sponsored by the New Mexico Academy of Science. Students have the opportunity to qualify through their local or area school competitions. This competition has students that do a Research Experimental Science Project submit the written manuscript for the project which is judged based on criteria set by the New Mexico Academy of Science. They then qualify to compete at a regional event to participate at the New Mexico Junior Academy of Science State Paper Competition in conjunction with the New Mexico State Science Fair.

The students that orally presented their research at the Regional Competition and qualify for the state competition were: Junior Division Grades 6-8th

1st Place went to Emma Munson for the presentation of her project: “Hot Garbage”, 7th grade at Los Alamitos.

2nd Place went to Isabella Halley for her presentation, “Magic Bacteria”: Exploring Bacterial Transformation and Antibiotics”, 7th grade at New Mexico Connections Academy.

3rd Place went to Lucas Rychener for his presentation of, “How Does Caffeine Affect the Regeneration of Planaria?”, 7th grade at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School.

Senior Division Grades 9th-12th

1st Place went to Brandi Bassett for presentation of her research, “Glowing, Glowing, Gone”, 12th grade at Grants High School.

2nd Place went to Noah Lundstrom for presentation of his research, “Establishing a Reliable Protocol for Bacteriophage Titer”, 11th grade at Grants High School.

3rd Place went to Faith Valdez for her research “ASL Trainer: American Sign Language programmed Visual Learning,” 12th grade at Grants High School.

These students now have the opportunity to represent 4 Corners Regional NMJAS and their schools at the 2024 New Mexico NMJAS Paper Competition Friday April 12, at New Mexico Tech in Socorro, NM.

Director of the Four Corners Regional Fair Shelby Alexander said, “Congratulations to all the students that have participated in Science Fair and its related STEM events this year. We greatly appreciate the support and assistance of the schools, teachers, parents, administrators, judges, volunteers, community members, city, county, and regional businesses, along with tribal and governmental agencies that have supported us at 4 Corners Regional Science & Engineering Fair in providing these science outreach opportunities for students in our service areas.”