Students Win Best of Show in Science and Engineering Fair

CChristian Home & Bible School freshman Chelsea Massaro took Best of Show in the Senior Division of the Lake County Science and Engineering Fair on February 7, 2009. Chelsea’s project entitled Complexing Transition Metal Ions With Curcumin was also awarded first place in Chemistry.

Chelsea became interested in Alzheimer research when her grandmother was recently diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimers. After researching online she learned how curcumin, a spice found in curry, impacts the progression of Alzheimers Disease. Chelsea knew she needed a college level lab for her experiments so she went to Stetson University and introduced herself and her science project to Dr. W. Tandy Grubbs. Dr. Grubbs gave Chelsea access to one of the University science labs and became very interested in the project.

Because copper, iron, and nickel are minerals found in the human body and are close elements in the periodic table, Chelsea chose to mix these elements with curcumin to test the bonding affinity for possible benefits as a chelating agent to slow the progression of Alzheimers.

Chelsea received several awards including a $1,000 cash award from LPG Environmental & Permitting Services, Inc. She will represent Lake County in the State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida in Lakeland,

Two Christian Home & Bible School Students

Take BEST OF SHOW in the Lake County Science and Engineering Fair April 15-17 and the International Science Fair in Reno, Nevada, May10-16. The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair will bring 1,600 exceptional high school students from more than 50 countries to compete in the world’s largest science, math and engineering competition (www.gatheringgenius.com). Christian Home & Bible School will help raise the funds for Chelsea to attend. Christian Home & Bible School seventh grade student Alex Campione was awarded Best of Show in the Junior Division with her project The Effect of Trees on the Color of Lake Water. Alex placed first in the Environmental category. Her love for water sports and the beauty of Florida lakes inspired her investigation of, what makes water darker in some lakes than others. She tested branches, leaves, and needles in eighteen samples of fresh Wekiva Spring water to reach her conclusion. Alex received $100 in cash and $250 in savings bonds. She also earned the privilege of representing Lake County at the State Science Fair in Lakeland. Christian Home & Bible School eighth grade student Carson Barker was awarded first place in the Earth and Space category in the Junior Division with his project LimeZone. Carson extracted lime samples from several different geological surveys throughout the state to discover which of the samples he collected was the purest. Carson will also compete at the 54th Annual State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida, April1517 in Lakeland. Fair, cont. on page 13...