Friendswood High School announces science fair winners

Students from Friendswood High School won several honors during the 2012 Galveston County Science and Engineering Fair, held on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston.

In the 9th Grade Division, Shanika Silva won first place, and Katherine Harclerode won second place honors, in the Behavioral/Social Sciences category. In Biochemistry/Microbiology, Karan Jerath received first place, Emelie Nelson won second place and Pahno Georgeton was awarded third place.

Kelly Janaks won first place in the Chemistry category. In Engineering, Audrey McKee was the first-place winner.

In Medicine/Health, Nikita Gupta received second place while Owen ONeill won honorable mention.

In the Senior Division, Garrett Benson won first place in Behavioral/Social Sciences. In Biochemistry/Microbiology, first place went to Derek Abraham. Jane Bonnen and Matthew Laitkep won first and second place, respectively, in Botony.

In Computer Science, Roma Pradhan won first place, Rachel Goeken won second place, Chandika Silva finished third and Timothy Crews won honorable mention.

Lauren Peplinski won first place in Environmental Science while Julia Conger finished second and Caroline Landon placed third. Rachel Truong won honorable mention. In Engineering, Ben Burdick won first place, Daniel Bellian won second, Michael Laitkep took third place, and Julie Rogers tied for honorable mention with David Bordelon.

In the Math category, Daniel Bradley won second place. In Physics, Jamie McCullough received first place and Derek Janak won second place.

Ninth-grade winners won $40, $25 and $15 for finishing first, second and third. Senior Division winners received $50, $25 or $15.

Special Awards were given in four categories.

The Naval Science Award Recipients included Ben Burdick, Jamie McCullough and Emelie Nelson.

The Texas A&M University at Galveston 12th-Grade Scholarship for $2,500 was presented to Chandika.

Overall division winners for 9th grade were presented Shanika, who finished first and received a plaque and $80; Nelson, who received a plaque and $60; Audrey McKee, who won $40 for finishing third; Nikita Gupta, who finished fourth; Katherine Harclerode, who placed fifth; and Karen Jerath, who won honorable mention.

Overall winners in the Senior Division were first-place winner Burdick, who was awarded $150; Lauren Peplinski, who finished third; Garrett Benson, who placed fourth; Jamie McCullough, who finished fifth; and Daniel Bellian, who won honorable mention.

In early March, 36 students from FHS will be competing in the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston.