KALAMAZOO – Three individuals and three teams won awards in March at the Southwest Michigan International Science and Engineering Fair at Western Michigan University?s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
In the individual category, Yiqian “Jasmine” Zheng won first place, Sri Aravamuthan came in second. Both are KAMSC students. Sheeba Joseph of Battle Creek claimed third place.
For the team category, Scott Horton, Tom Bezera and Aaron Ridenou from Battle Creek came in first; Brent Grabowski and Ben Shultz from KAMSC won second place; and John Knific and Sam Shaikh, also from KAMSC, came in third place.
Thirty-two students from the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center and Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Centers participated. Fourteen science professionals judged the projects in individual and team categories on creativity, scientific thought, thoroughness, skill, clarity and teamwork.
All first-place winners receive $300, second-place winners receive $200 and third-place winners receive $100. These prizes were made possible by the fair’s supporters, Pfizer Inc., Southwest Michigan First, Southwest Michigan Innovation Center Inc. and VWR International.
The first-place team and all of the individual winners will advance to an international competition in Phoenix, Ariz.
