Sixth Grader Receives Regional Science Awards

A Newark sixth grader has been recognized by the state and county for her analysis of applied mechanics and structures in her science experiment called Tension on Knee Joint and Quadriceps Muscle.

student Mahima S. Chilakanti is one of eight students who were recognized by the Alameda County Office of Education for her participation in the county Science and Engineering Fair, according to a press release issued by the Alameda County Office of Education.

She is one of six students from Alameda County who was awarded at the Caliornia State Sciene Fair.

The following is the full press release from Alameda County Office of Education:

HAYWARD – The Alameda County Office of Education proudly recognizes the outstanding work of eight Alameda County school students who participated in the Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair (ACSEF) in March and advanced to the California State Science Fair last week.

The students competed with close to 1,000 students who had winning projects in their own county or regional fairs from all over California. Only one place award (1st through 4th) is given out per category making the chance of winning one of these awards exceptional. Only 24 special recognition awards are available to all participants. Six out of the eight students representing Alameda County received awards. Our congratulations go out to the following students:  

• Jessika Baral, 7th grader from Hopkins (William) Junior High in Fremont won First Place in the Junior Division of Mammalian Biology for her project titled A Novel Way to Strengthen Eye Muscles and Enhance Peripheral Vision.
• Winnie Chen, 8th grader from Sunol Glen School in Sunol won First Place in the Junior Division of Product Science (Physical) for her project titled Lead in Makeup.
• Mahima S. Chilakanti, 6th grader from in Newark won Fourth Place in the Junior Division of Applied Mechanics & Structures for her project titled Tension on Knee Joint and Quadriceps Muscle.
• Moniyka Sachar, 11th grader from Irvington High School in Fremont won Second Place in the Senior Division of Plant Science for her project titled DNA-Binding Protein in Xcv Bacteria Alters Plant bHLH Gene to Promote Pathogen Growth during Infection: A Genetic Study. Moniyka also was awarded a $1,000 CAPCA Agricultural Award from the California Association of Pest Control Advisors who recognized the future application of her project to the agricultural business in California.
• Kelly X. Zhang, 11th grader from The College Preparatory School in Oakland received Honorable Mention in the Senior Division of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology for her project titled Fluorescent Imaging for Nano-Detection (FIND) of Cancer Cells.

The other participants from ACSEF included Aniruddh Mandalapu, 6th grader from Challenger School in Union City; William Du, 11th grader from Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland; and Alice Chu, 11th grader from Mission San Jose High School in Fremont.

Honorable recognition also goes out to Moniyka Sachar from Irvington High School in Fremont, and Aditya Sinha from in Pleasanton. The two students won the Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair senior division grand prize titles and will represent Alameda County at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), May 12th   - May 18th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They will compete with over 1600 of the best science students from all over the world.

Planning for ACSEF 2013 is underway with a Science Fair 101 series of workshops for students, teachers and parents starting May 20th.  Interested groups can contact fair director Patti Carothers for more details at (925) 426-7879 or via email: alamedacountysef@gmail.com  

ACOE is proud to support the ACSEF and is committed to making Science education engaging and meaningful while meeting state standards.  ACOE's Integrated Middle School Science (IMSS) Partnership builds capacity of science teachers to integrate practices and science content, to integrate the common core into science curriculum and instruction, and to expand the use of formative assessments to improve teaching and learning for middle school students. The IMSS Summer Science Institute on July 16-July 27, 2012 will be held for teachers from participating districts. For more information, visit our website