West Central Regional Science Fair Results Announced, Includes Hope Student

HOT SPRINGS — Three Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students earned a trip to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May at the West Central Regional Science Fair.

Aly Navarro, a senior from Hot Springs, won first place overall followed by Cameryn Berryhill, a junior from Evening Shade, in second place and Catherine Kwon, a senior from Little Rock, in third. Navarro’s project studied the source of unknown deposits found in the pipes of Libbey Fountain, one of the public jug fountains in Hot Springs National Park. Berryhill researched how a certain soil microbiome affected the growth of native and invasive plants. Kwon’s project researched whether there was a way to predict neonatal seizures. It is the second year in a row that Kwon qualified to compete in the ISEF competition.

Individual category winners of the regional science fair held Feb. 25-26 were also recognized. Students who placed in first through third in their individual categories are eligible to compete in the Arkansas State Science and Engineering Fair that will be held virtually on April 2.

The Regeneron ISEF is the world’s largest and most prestigious undergraduate research competition. Judging for the contest sponsored by the Society For Science will be held virtually May 3-6. The conference at which competition winners will be announced as well as various panel discussions will be held virtually May 16-21.

Individual award winners by category included, in Physics/Astronomy: 1. Ashton Trumble of Conway 2. Mika Brownof Hope