Fulton Students Win Big At Science, Engineering Fair

By Kristal Dixon

Twenty-four Fulton County students recently won first place awards, as well as other special honors from sponsoring organizations, at the 2014 Annual Georgia Science and Engineering Fair. The event was held at the University of Georgia. 

The middle and high school competition drew hundreds of the state’s best science projects. Fulton County students first participated at the school district’s regional fair, with first place winners and some second place winners advancing to state competition. In addition to the seven first place awards that were earned, 38 special awards were given.

The Georgia Science and Engineering Fair awards the best overall project at the fair with the prestigious Pinnacle Award, which was won by Roswell High School senior Anand Srinivasan. 

GSEF also awarded four trips to the International Science and Engineering Fair, and Anand will represent Fulton County Schools in the ISEF competition this week in Los Angeles. Additionally, Roswell High School teacher Laura Hunter won the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Atlanta Chapter – Faculty Sponsor award. 

For the 2014 state competition, first place and special honors were awarded to:

Junior Division – First Place Awards

• Charles Fiske – Elkins Pointe Middle School
• Madhav Ghatpande – Taylor Road Middle School
• Nina Giddens – Sandtown Middle School
• Ramtin Mahmoudkhani – Elkins Pointe Middle School

Junior Division – Special Awards

Nina Giddens – Sandtown Middle School

• Agricultural Research Service Award for Excellence in Agricultural Science
• Broadcom Masters Nominee
• Georgia Science & Engineering Fair Best in Category for Biochemistry

Charles Fiske and Ramtin Mahmoudkhani – Elkins Pointe Middle School         

• Broadcom Masters Nominee

• Broadcom Masters Nominee

Benjamin Miller – Sandy Springs Charter Middle School

• Georgia Science & Engineering Fair Best in Category for Chemistry

Sireesh Ramesh – Taylor Road Middle School

• Georgia Science & Engineering Fair Best in Category for Physics & Astronomy

Senior Division – First Place Awards

• Rickie Woosuk Jang – Northview High School
• Puja Tripuraneni – Northview High School
• Anand Srinivasan – Roswell High School

Senior Division – Special Awards

Anand Srinivasan – Roswell High School

• Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Atlanta Chapter Award
• Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics Award
• Intel Excellence in Computer Science Award
• Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Award
• Georgia Science & Engineering Fair Best in Category for Computer Science
• Regional Science Fair ISEP Trip Winner – Fulton County Regional
• Georgia Science & Engineering Fair Grand Award – Top 10 State Recognition
• The Pinnacle Award – Sponsored by the Kroger Co., Atlanta Division

Shamsya Khan and Hana Nazir – Johns Creek High School         

• American Chemical Society Outstanding Accomplishment in Chemistry or Biochemistry – First Prize

Catherine Chang, Insiya Essani and Hersh Gupta – Johns Creek High School   

• American Psychological Association Award

Rickie Woosuk Jang – Northview High School      

• Georgia Academy of Aviation, Math, Engineering & Science Student of Promise Award
• UGA Physics & Astronomy Department Award
• Yale Science & Engineering Association Award
• Georgia Science & Engineering Fair Best in Category for Physics & Astronomy

Malcolm Barnard – Johns Creek High School

• Georgia Lakes Society Award in Water Quality Studies
• Stockholm Junior Water Price Regional Award

Joshua Tam – Johns Creek High School                  

• National Youth Science Camp Award – Alternate

Rajiv Reddy and Rick Saha – Alpharetta High School      

• Ricoh Sustainable Development Award
• Georgia Science & Engineering Fair Best In Category for Engineering M&B

David Xing – Northview High School

• Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics Award

Eric Wang – Chattahoochee High School

• Tellus Museum’s Outstanding Exhibit Award – Alternate
• Georgia Science & Engineering Fair Best In Category Energy & Transportation

Evan Barnard – Johns Creek High School              

• Tellus Museum’s Outstanding Exhibit Award