Boise State University’s 45th annual Science Competition Day brought about 200 high school students to campus on Saturday, Feb. 4, for a battle of the minds in the subjects of science, mathematics and engineering. After an intensive morning exam, top performers were recognized in an awards ceremony, with prizes ranging from medals for winning schools to a $20,000 scholarship.
The day also included a free in-service workshop for teachers that focused on the Kepler Space Mission, campus tours, a “This is Boise State” information fair, and interaction with faculty and current students about university programs in the sciences, mathematics and engineering. The competition also included a mousetrap catapult apparatus contest in which students built a device to propel a 15-gram Play-Doh ball in the air over a barrier and along a straight line.
Schools with the best overall tallies are:
• Small: Nampa Christian
• Large: Treasure Valley Math and Science Center
The top overall individual scores are:
• Samuel Chandler, Treasure Valley Math and Science Center
• Eddie Smith, Treasure Valley Math and Science Center
• Alexander Baca, Treasure Valley Math and Science Center
• Samuel Faucher, Boise Senior High School
• Erik Parkinson , Boise Senior High School
• Nikolas Taylor, Boise Senior High School
• Adam Jiang, Boise Senior High School
• Luke Bodmer, Timberline Senior High School
• Josh Zanders, Compass High School
• Zachary Puett, Boise Senior High School
The top individual scores by discipline are:
• Biology: Lillian Ball, Timberline Senior High School
• Chemistry: Rebecca Berg, Borah Senior High School
• Engineering: Ryan Anderson, Borah Senior High School
• Geosciences: Alexander Baca, Treasure Valley Math and Science Center
• Mathematics: Yoonji Ra, Boise Senior High School
• Physics: Alexander Baca, Treasure Valley Math and Science Center
The mousetrap catapult contest winner is: Brandon Halloway, Vale High School (Oregon).
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Media contact: Matt Pene, University Communications, (208) 426-4910, MattPene@boisestate.edu
About Boise State University
As an emerging metropolitan research university of distinction, Boise State University plays a crucial role in the region’s economic development and famed quality of life. Idaho’s largest institution of higher education offers nearly 200 degrees and certificates in seven colleges. While remaining committed to the strong teaching legacy that has resulted in 11 Idaho Professor of the Year awards since 1990, Boise State’s added emphasis on innovation and creativity is fueling the fastest growing research program in Idaho.