King Student Receives Drinking Water Award

Joshua Glow, a ninth-grader at , was recently recognized by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and the Tampa Water Department for a science project he completed in relation to the Hillsborough County watershed.

Joshua was one of three students chosen from an estimated 1,900 students across Hillsborough to compete last month at the 2012 Hillsborough County Regional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fair as a Drinking Water Award winner.

Also recognized were Billy Gibbs of Martinez Middle School and Grace Pipp of Westchase Elementary School, according to a press release from the Tampa Water Department. The department’s Drinking Water Award recognizes outstanding science fair projects at various grade divisions related to drinking water resources and/or water conservation. Each winning student received a gift card, a certificate of achievement and a Water Conservation Kit.

Joshua’s project was titled “The Electromagnetic Field Effects of Hydrokinetic Energy Sources on Freshwater Ecosystems in the Hillsborough County Watershed.” It examined how electromagnetic fields in hydrokinetic technology could affect the freshwater ecosystems of the Hillsborough County watershed.

In addition to receiving the Tampa Water Department Drinking Water Award, Joshua placed first in the Senior Environmental Science Division and will continue on to compete at the Florida State Science Fair in April.

Joshua’s mother, Sherrie Glow, wrote the following about Josh in order to provide more information to the City of Tampa:

“Joshua’s project has evolved over the last three years in an interesting way. His project originally started with a curiosity for his personal pet fish tanks and then was sparked by his science classes at the STEM Academy at . This spark carried through to a program field trip to the Florida Aquarium and attendance at Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Marine Quest events where his ideas and questions took over.

“This marks the third time he has won first place in his category at the Hillsborough County level and has learned tremendous lessons from being a privileged member of the county team competing at the State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida.

“The purpose of this year’s study is to determine how electromagnetic fields in the hydrokinetic technology could affect the freshwater ecosystems of the Hillsborough county watershed.

“Joshua is a very involved and dedicated student of King High School where his father and grandfather also graduated. He is a proud member of the marching and symphonic band. He is a dedicated member of where he is a core member of the teen youth group as well as serving as a lector and an altar server. Joshua enjoys doing charity work for , , Metropolitan Ministries and preparation work for Haitian medical missions.

“Joshua is honored to receive the 2012 Drinking Water Award from the City of Tampa for several reasons. This Temple Terrace resident is a fifth-generation Tampanian. His grandfather and great-grandfather were former employees of the City of Tampa. He believes his project can give a better understanding of the impact hydrokinetic devices could have on the fragile river ecosystems where they are introduced. He is energized that the City of Tampa showed this interest in his research.”