Hundreds of Future Scientists Dazzle at Kern County Regional Science Fair

After months of research, experiments, and hard work, about 600 4th through 12th grade students showcased their projects at Kern County’s 37th annual Regional Science Fair. The event, which took place at the Dignity Health Convention Center Tuesday, was a chance for students who had risen through the ranks of their schools and districts to compete at the county level.

“It’s such an important event to have kids be able to show off the work they’re doing,” said Matt Kedzierski, retired scientist and president of the Kern County Science Foundation. “Every student that is here today is a winner just by being here.”

More than 200 judges from companies across the county volunteered their time to judge the projects in each category based on scientific thought, creativity, organization, motivation, and more. Chinedu Nwankwor, an asset integrity engineer with Chevron, one of the event’s sponsors, says he’s excited to get to know Bakersfield’s students and future scientists. 

“I’m looking at originality, the thought process that goes into the experiment that they are doing,” he said. “I want to understand what led them to choose the topic that they presented, and from what I’ve seen so far, it’s amazing.”

Elaina Rusk, Kern Science Foundation Board Secretary and KGET Meteorologist, delivered the keynote address. She gave a brief history of meteorology and the science behind predicting weather patterns and tracking the climate. The Kern County Science Fair is an event that’s very close to her heart, and she wants to encourage all students, especially girls, to get involved in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

“I had one teacher in elementary school say girls can’t do math. And I believed it, and it’s not true,” Rusk explained. “I love being able to tell all children, especially little girls, you are good at math and you can do anything in STEM.”

An all-girl group from Ridgeview High School is also championing women in STEM. The team developed a device to help visually impaired individuals navigate the world more freely and safely. It’s a sensor that vibrates to let people know when it detects objects up to two and a half feet away. They presented it as a cost-effective and practical replacement for walking canes and seeing-eye dogs. They have been working on the project since August and hope to move on to the state level. 

“Never doubt yourself, because you honestly can do anything if you really work for it,” said senior Zanay Blanco. 

Sanay Mahajan, a sixth grader at Ronald Reagan Elementary, presented his findings on the effects of regenerative braking in electric cars on motion sickness. He says he decided on this project after feeling dizzy during a test ride in a Tesla. He researched the causes of motion sickness and what can trigger it. He built a prototype to test his hypothesis and found that it was correct. Mahajan says it’s his third year at the science fair, and he wants to encourage all students to do it. 

“It’s scary at first, but once you get used to it, you get more confidence,” he said. 

First-place finishers in middle and high school are eligible to compete in the 75th annual California Science Fair on the weekend of April 12-13.

Two projects from the high school division will represent Kern County in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which will be held in Columbus, Ohio, in May. Nearly 2,000 students worldwide earn the right to compete for up to $5 million in awards and scholarships. This year’s Kern County representatives are Ishmeet Singh and Simar Singh both from Stockdale High School.

The following are the results in each category:

4th Grade

Chemistry
First Place — Brynnan Hughes / Miller Elementary
Second Place — Amber Clegg / American Elementary School
Third Place — Abigail Flint / Highland Elementary
Honorable Mention — Manseerat Kang / Wonderful College Prep

Electronics & Electromagnetics
First Place — Howard Hyatt / Rio Bravo-Greeley
Second Place — Adelyn McLaughin / Centennial Elementary
Third Place — William Blakie / Saint Ann School
Honorable Mention — Austin Cuevas / Nueva Vista Language Academy

Mammalian Biology
First Place — Charleigh Tripp / Highland Elementary
Second Place — Evan Mason / Standard Elementary
Third Place — Leah Carrillo / Ramon Garza Elementary

Materials Science
First Place — Cambria Fouts / Heartland Charter School
Second Place — Yareli Deltorre / Loudon Elementary
Third Place — Max Currie / Downtown School
Honorable Mention — Richard Garcia / Independence Elementary

Physics & Astronomy
First Place — Penelope Trigo / Nueva Vista Language Academy
Second Place — Eden Basconcillo / Princeton Elementary
Third Place — Zayd Farah / Louise Sandrini Elementary
Honorable Mention- Sadie Launer / W.A. Kendrick Elementary

Plant Biology
First Place — Charlotte Severson / Centennial Elementary
Second Place — Noah Watkins / Loudon Elementary
Third Place — Emma Harter / Wallace Elementary School
Honorable Mention- Kylie Worcester / Highland Elementary

Product Science
First Place — Noah Miranda / Del Vista Math & Science Academy
Second Place — Amariah Onsurez / Prosperity Elementary
Third Place — Odin Zemko / Pierce Elementary
Honorable Mention — Camila Romero / Zephyr Lane Elementary

5th Grade

Aerodynamics/Hydrodynamics
First Place — Sebastian Ramirez / Nueva Vista Language Academy
Second Place — Evelyn Johnson / Pierce Elementary
Third Place — John Gino Zaninovich / Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Alternative Energy
First Place — Nikolas Kelesides / Buena Vista Elementary
Second Place — Crusoe Kirkpatrick / Centennial Elementary
Third Place — Samira Numi / Nueva Vista Language Academy

Animal Sciences
First Place — Avery Miner / St. Francis Parish
Second Place — Slater Shahan / Laurelglen Elementary
Third Place — Kara Whatmough / Valley Oaks Charter
Honorable Mention- Ivan Sanchez / Myrtle Avenue

Applied Mechanics & Structures
First Place — Alex Angel / Karl F. Clemens Elementary
Second Place — Devin Shuman / Tompkins Elementary
Third Place — Lucia Rodrigues / McKinley Elementary
Honorable Mention- Ryan Woods / Maricopa Middle School

Chemistry
First Place — Kaesaline Chao / Leo B. Hart Elementary
Second Place — Aliyah Cerda / Valle Verde Elementary
Third Place — Tarun Thallapalle / St. John’s Lutheran School

Earth & Environmental Science
First Place — Avyaan Jain / Ronald Reagan Elementary
Second Place — Millie Murguia / Pioneer Elementary
Third Place — Stephanie Johnson / Centennial Elementary
Honorable Mention — Joshua Rasson / Peak to Peak Mountain Charter

Electronics & Electromagnetics
First Place — Steven Cerna / Del Vista Math & Science Academy
Second Place — Xaeley Ganir / Wonderful College Prep
Third Place — Lucia Solis / Del Rio Elementary
Honorable Mention — Aranza Pompa Manjarrez / Terrace Elementary

Materials Science
First Place — Parker Hay / St. Francis Parish
Second Place — Jonathan Ruiz / Del Vista Math & Science Academy
Third Place — Daleyza Contreras / Myrtle Avenue
Honorable Mention — Ayleen Beltran / Alicante Avenue Elementary

Physics and Astronomy
First Place — Eli Hinojoza / Palla Elementary School
Second Place — Logan Reel / Golden Hills Elementary
Third Place — Sophia Rangel / Owens Elementary
Honorable Mention — Giovanni Damas / Crescent Elementary

Plant Biology
First Place — Nathan Ramos-Leal / Owens Elementary
Second Place — Kennedy Canales / Highland Elementary
Third Place — Ellia Leaman / Leo B. Hart Elementary
Honorable Mention — Jeannie Chandler / Standard Elementary

Product Science
First Place — Grace Dale / St. Francis Parish
Second Place — Gerardo Montenegro / Ramon Garza Elementary
Third Place — Liam Hernandez / Del Vista Math & Science Academy
Honorable Mention — Ines Jauregui / Laurelglen Elementary

6-8 Grade

Aerodynamics/Hydrodynamics
First Place — Mithilesh Saravanan, Shashank Ramasubramanian, Sri Datta Charepalli / Fruitvale Junior High
Second Place — Blake Baguio, Blake Watson, Kai Stamper / Discovery Elementary
Third Place — Santiago Rocha / McKee Middle School
Honorable Mention — Robert Fernandez / Palm Avenue Middle School

Alternative Energy
First Place — Nathaniel Dixon / Rio Bravo-Greeley
Second Place — Sari Legrama / Valley Oaks Charter
Third Place — Jeremy Wu / Warren Junior High
Honorable Mention — Jorge Gonzalez / Mountain View Middle School

Applied Mechanics and Structures
First Place — Emmeline Blakie / Saint Ann School
Second Place — Anneliese Kimmel / Rio Bravo-Greeley
Third Place — Emma Vasquez, Liana Van / Almond Tree Middle School

Behavioral and Social Sciences
First Place — Nicholas Dixon / Rio Bravo-Greeley
Second Place — Nikoletta Valos-Deal / Stockdale Christian School
Third Place — Leighton Powell / Owens Elementary
Honorable Mention — Kyle Whatmough / Valley Oaks Charter

Chemistry
First Place — Paul Blakie / Saint Ann School
Second Place — Zoli Haroutunian / Stockdale Christian School
Third Place — Ethan Robles / Owens Elementary
Honorable Mention — Madison Behill / Fruitvale Junior High

Cognitive Science
First Place — Eli Ozcan, Maximus Hernandez / St. Francis Parish
Second Place — Evangelia Valos-Deal / Stockdale Christian School
Third Place — Kiara Martinez / Ollivier Middle School

Earth and Environmental Sciences
First Place — Scout Brasier / Stockdale Christian School
Second Place — Aanya Chatterjee / Warren Junior High
Third Place — Sanvi Mahajan / Ronald Reagan Elementary

Electronics and Electromagnetics
First Place — Alejandro Hernández / Saint Ann School
Second Place — Cristian Bojorquez / Zephyr Lane Elementary
Third Place — Roman Reich / Lincoln Junior High
Honorable Mention — Duncan Furse / Valley Oaks Charter

Environmental Engineering
First Place — Katherine Myers / Rio Bravo-Greeley
Second Place — Vincent Atkinson / Almondale Elementary
Third Place — Zainab Patanwala / Warren Junior High
Honorable Mention — Darshan Sarath Babu / Stockdale Elementary

Food Science
First Place — Madelyn Walker / Cato Middle School
Second Place — Grace Maxwell / Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Third Place — Srikandan Narayanan / Warren Junior High
Honorable Mention — Kiley Huang / Old River Elementary

Mammalian Biology
First Place — Shalini Dandamudi / St. John’s Lutheran School
Second Place — Amrita Singh / St. John’s Lutheran School
Third Place — Serena Thornburg / Jacobsen Middle School
Honorable Mention — Amelia Bustillos / Ollivier Middle School

Materials Science
First Place — Catherine Wahba / St. John’s Lutheran School
Second Place — Jason Mohanraj / Warren Junior High
Third Place — Tristan Tolentino / Owens Elementary
Honorable Mention — Alice Jennings / Van Horn Elementary

Physics and Astronomy
First Place — Wyatt Stanley / Centennial Elementary
Second Place — Flora Pack / Heartland Charter School
Third Place — Ainsley Dawson / Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Plant Biology
First Place — Gianna Porter / Warren Junior High
Second Place — Lyanna Rohac / American Elementary School
Third Place — Diana Vargas / Buena Vista Elementary
Honorable Mention — Evangeline Heber / Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Product Science
First Place — Gavin Huang / Warren Junior High
Second Place — Avery Almanza / Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Third Place — America Lopez, Isabel Franco / McKee Middle School
Honorable Mention —Jakub Khan / St. John’s Lutheran School

Toxicology
First Place — Daniel Mireles / Heartland Charter School
Second Place — Luis Rivera / Wonderful College Prep
Third Place — Juliette Cantu / Pioneer Elementary

Zoology
First Place — Alekha Goldberg / Peak to Peak Mountain Charter
Second Place — Julian Calleros / Owens Elementary
Third Place — Jasmine Kaur / Greenfield Middle School

9-12 Grade

Applied Mechanics & Structures
First Place — Santiago Medina / Ridgeview High School
Second Place — Eva Flores, Miguel Quiroz / Ridgeview High School
Third Place — Marco Geier Rodriguez / Centennial High School

Behavioral & Social Sciences
First Place — Anjali Kakarla / Stockdale High School
Second Place — Simar Singh / Stockdale High School
Third Place — Dahlia Alvarez, Rania Alzaindani / Ridgeview High School

Biomedical Engineering
First Place — Ishmeet Singh / Stockdale High School
Second Place — Ronak Bose / Stockdale High School
Third Place — Kathryn Ready / Highland High School

Chemistry
First Place — Tanvi Thallapalle / Stockdale High School
Second Place — Saisha Gulati / Stockdale High School
Third Place- Rupsa Daripa / Stockdale High School
Honorable Mention- Sophia Romero / Ridgeview High School

Earth and Environmental Sciences
First Place — Kelli McKenzie / Ridgeview High School
Second Place — Shreemayi Khairatkar / Stockdale High School
Third Place — Nicholas Fiehler, William Picato / Ridgeview High School
Honorable Mention — Sidhaan Ranganath / Stockdale High School

Electronics and Electromagnetics
First Place — Emily Frayre, Valeria Ojeda, Zanay Blanco / Ridgeview High School
Second Place — Caleb Cruz, Isaiah Ocampo / Ridgeview High School

Environmental Engineering
First Place — Gurleen Toor / Stockdale High School
Second Place — Sanjay Ravikumar, Wenhao Jia / Stockdale High School
Third Place — Ashley Quezada, Parneet Kaur / Ridgeview High School
Honorable Mention — Landon Lemison / Ridgeview High School

Mathematical Sciences
First Place — Maanya Srivastava, Tanya Srivastava / Stockdale High School
Second Place — Hardik Chopra, Juan-Carlos Santiago, Sukirat Kaur / Ridgeview High School
Third Place — Jimmy Dao / Ridgeview High School

Microbiology
First Place — Jiya Sharma, Nathan Chavez, Parjot Sodhi / Ridgeview High School
Second Place — Perlla Ghumid / Stockdale High School
Third Place — Enzo Romero, Manreet Deol, Nimrit Sandhu / Ridgeview High School

Physics and Astronomy
First Place — Eric Nahama / Bakersfield High School
Second Place — Brayden Maokosy / Ridgeview High School
Third Place — Manveer Singh / Ridgeview High School
Honorable Mention — Vanessa Sosa / Ridgeview High School

Plant Biology
First Place — Madelyn Evans / Ridgeview High School
Second Place — Aidan Herrera, Harman Singh, Tejveer Sandhu / Ridgeview High School
Third Place — Natalie Mercado / Wonderful College Prep

Ishmeet Singh won first place in the high school division and will represent Kern County in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May.