County Science Fair Rewards Top Students

Thirty-five students won first prizes in the 33rd annual Ventura County Science Fair, a three-day competition that ended last Friday.

More than 600 children from 60 schools gathered at the county fairgrounds to display projects on topics ranging from alcohol consumption to wood strength.

Judges from local businesses selected the winners, who are eligible to compete in the statewide fair in Los Angeles on May 24 and 25.

First-Prize Winners:

Animal Behavior/Zoology/Psychology: Katie Brisbine, 11th grade, St. Bonaventure High; Lori Judd, ninth grade, Westlake High; Cyndi Poole, eighth grade, St. Rose of Lima School; Andrea Sanchez, seventh grade, Mesa Junior High; Tara C. Martin, sixth grade, Chaparral Middle School.

Botany: Natalie Bolt, 12th grade, Buena High; David Gorcey, ninth grade, Rio Mesa High; Kristen Brison, eighth grade, La Reina High; Nicholas Sanchez, seventh grade, Fremont Intermediate School; Valerie Lake, sixth grade, Chaparral Middle School.

Chemistry/Biochemistry: Charles Holland III, 11th grade, Westlake High; Kari Ann Hong, ninth grade, Westlake High; Jeanine Hutton, eighth grade, Ocean View Junior High; Ashil Sompura, seventh grade, Haydock Intermediate School; Mario-Cristian Rodriquez, sixth grade, Santa Clara School.

Earth/Space/Environmental: Summer Laurin, 11th grade, Santa Paula High; Jennifer Retzler, 10th grade, Westlake High; Linda Koffman, eighth grade, Fremont Intermediate School; Emily Susman, seventh grade, Balboa Middle School; Jack Pardo, sixth grade, Chaparral Middle School.

Microbiology/Medical Science: Susan Chang, 12th grade, Santa Paula High; Kerry Melachouris, 10th grade, Westlake High; Ronald Mencio, eighth grade, Ocean View Junior High; Emily Miller, seventh grade, Somis School; Melissa Higashi, sixth grade, Ocean View Junior High.

Physics/Physical Science: Mark Kretschmer, 11th grade, St. Bonaventure High; Chris Hartman, ninth grade, Westlake High; Kendall White, eighth grade, Las Colinas Intermediate School; Justin Messina, seventh grade, Cabrillo Middle School; Gabriel Punslan, sixth grade, Las Colinas Intermediate School.

Mathematics/Computers: James Reichardt, 12th grade, Buena High; George Youssef, ninth grade, Oxnard High; Christine Conrad, eighth grade, Los Cerritos Intermediate School; David Riggs, seventh grade, Sequoia Intermediate School; Rebecca Wershba, sixth grade, Chaparral Middle School.