California State Science Fair — 2006
Special and Recognition Awards


Special Awards

California 4-H Service Through Science Award – Two $500 awards given to the projects that best used science to address a pressing community need and that embraced the four Hs: Head, Heart, Hands, & Health. Sponsored by Wells Fargo.

Junior Division: Brian M. Mares, J0519, Ventura County

Senior Division: Reyna D. Garcia, S1507, Los Angeles County


Cardinal and Gold Award of Excellence – $1000 awarded to an outstanding woman scientist from a deserving neighborhood. Presented by Debra Reed and Arthur Drylle

Award: Elizabeth Bolanos, J0604, Los Angeles County


CEPCEB Center for Plant Cell Biology Award – $1000 award acknowledges scientific achievement in the fields of cell and molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, or technology development that will impact our understanding of plant cell biology. Presented by the Center for Plant Cell Biology at the University of California at Riverside.

Award: Vinay Tripuraneni, S0426, Fresno County


Hefni Achievement in Science Award – $500 award representing the excellence of California’s youth in science studies.

Junior Division: Aaron Joseph J. Cruz, J1208, Ventura County

Junior Division: Noreen Zia, J1337, Orange County

Junior Division: Krikor Bornazyan, J1404, Los Angeles County

Junior Division: Omar Espinoza, J1809, Fresno County

Senior Division: Mario A. Magana, S1311, Ventura County

Senior Division: Barbara A. Shinaver, S1425, Fresno County


Management 411 Award for Achievement in Mathematics and Software Studies – $1000 award given in the Senior Division for achievement in mathematics and software studies.

Award: Michael A. Viscardi, S1223, San Diego County


MUSES Harriet Luckman Memorial Award – $1,000 award given to a young woman of achievement in senior high school science or math, in honor of a remarkable woman of achievement who was one of the founding members and benefactors of THE MUSES, the California Science Center, and California Science Center Foundation.

Award: Helen N. Jones, S1306, Lassen County


MUSES Special Award – $1,000 award given to a young woman of achievement in junior high school science or math. Sponsored by THE MUSES, dedicating more than 40 years of volunteer service to promoting science and math education through the California Science Center Foundation.

Award: Kathryn N. Keeley, J1612, Tulare County


Silicon Boule Award – Presented annually since 1995, this award acknowledges distinctive performance in the physical sciences. The award is an end piece of an ultrapure monocrystalline silicon boule. Presented by Dale L. Hall, retired Senior Engineer from Northrop Grumman Space Technology.

Award: Sean Pi, S0419, Los Angeles County


SPIE Optics & Photonics Award – SPIE’s award is dedicated to advancing student scientific research and engineering applications of optical, photonic, imaging, and optoelectronic technologies. Award is $1000, certificate, society membership, and SPIE t-shirt. One award in the Senior Division. Sponsored by the International Society for Optical Engineering.

Award: Bryce W. Cronkite-Ratcliff, S1505, San Mateo County



Recognition Awards

American Institute of Professional Geologists Geology Award – One $250 award in each age division to an outstanding project in the field of geosciences. Presented by the California Council of Geoscience Organizations.

Junior Division: Nikki M. Tachiki, J0623, Orange County

Senior Division: Sunil C. Bodapati, S0606, Santa Clara County


Association for Women Geoscientists, Los Angeles Chapter Award – $250 award to the best Geoscience Project done by a young woman.

Award: Irene Hsu, J0610, Los Angeles County

Award: Annemarie R. Kelleghan, J0613, Los Angeles County


Bone Clones Award – Exact osteologic reproductions of the human brain and grizzly bear skull (the official California state mammal) are awarded to the student and her or his school in recognition of their curiosity in biology. Presented by Santa Monica College Life Science Dept. and Bone Clones Osteological Reproductions Inc.

Student: Christine M. Pittman, J1025, Riverside County

School: Blythe Middle School, Blythe, Riverside County


California Association of Professional Scientists, Science Achievement Award – Presented to the project of a student in grades 7-11 best illustrating good scientific methodology in a discipline represented by members of CAPS. Award is $100 and an plaque.

      Award: Catherine A. Priamos, J0815, Riverside County


California Shore & Beach Preservation Association Award – Two awards ($500 in the Senior Division, $250 in the Junior Division) to projects demonstrating an understanding or unique curiosity for coastal processes either physical or biological. Award also includes student membership in ASBPA/CSBPA.

Junior Division: Annemarie R. Kelleghan, J0613, Los Angeles County

Senior Division: The team of Angela J. Afman and Kristin L. Hempy, S0801, Santa Barbara County


Health Physics Society, Southern California Chapter – Awards to the projects which best demonstrate and/or observe the use or effects of ionizing (e.g. x-rays) or non-ionizing (e.g. UV) radiation. First place project and the student’s teacher each receive $100, a certificate, and a ribbon. $25 awards and ribbons to honorable mention students.

First Place, Junior Division: Shelby L. Constance, J1110, Advisor: Mrs. Nicole Luckin, Fresno County

First Place, Senior Division: Sarah J. Adams, S1501, Advisor: Mr. Paul Hunt, Orange County

Honorable Mention, Junior Division: Carol Tran, J1134, Contra Costa County

Honorable Mention, Senior Division: The team of Jane Y. Chen and Susanna M. Shin, S0404, Riverside County


Pepperman-Alpert Memorial Scholarship Award – Award of $50 given to a student whose project is related to prevention, treatment or cure of cancer. Sponsored by the Pepperman-Alpert Memorial Foundation.

Award: Carol Y. Suh, S0424, Los Angeles County


Society of Petroleum Engineers, LA Basin Section, Superior Technical Achievement Award – For outstanding technical achievement in projects relating to the development of oil and/or gas resources, mechanics, subsurface fluid flow, and production of those or other energy resources through wellbores, or in projects of a technical nature requiring a high degree of independent thinking, which could be applied to the advancement of the field of petroleum engineering research and/or development. Awards are $300.

Award: Daphne Chien, J0508, Los Angeles County

Award: Kathleen V. Abadie, J0601, San Mateo County

Award: James B. Bonner, IV, S0103, Orange County


SPIE Optics & Photonics Award – SPIE’s award is dedicated to advancing student scientific research and engineering applications of optical, photonic, imaging, and optoelectronic technologies. Award is $250, certificate, society membership, and SPIE t-shirt. One award in each division. Sponsored by the International Society for Optical Engineering.

Junior Division: Mark A. Swerdlow, J1538, Los Angeles County

Senior Division: Jacob J. Rucker, S1514, San Diego County


UC Irvine, Earth Systems Science Award – Award of $250 presented to the student in grades 9-11 best demonstrating outstanding achievement in the study of Earth Systems Science.

Award: Astasia S. Myers, S1615, Santa Clara County


U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – One official certificate presented to the project deemed useful in conserving California’s biological diversity and ecological integrity. Sponsored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Award: Astasia S. Myers, S1615, Santa Clara County



California State Science Fair / 2006 / Special and Recognition Awards / CalifSF@usc.edu