Photos courtesy of BCPS
The Botetourt County School Board recognized this year’s participants in the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School Project Forum. The annual science fair represents several scientific disciplines, such as biochemistry, computer and mathematics, medicine and health, physics, and engineering. Students from Lord Botetourt and James River High Schools competed in the 2024 forum along with several students from other local high schools in the Roanoke Valley. Below are this year’s participants and their respective projects.
ANIMAL SCIENCES A
First Place (AS-A 2) The Ameliorative Effect of Carotenoid-Producing Yeast on the Memory of a Drosophila Model for Alzheimer’s – Keaton Lucas, Lord Botetourt High School
Second Place (AS-A 3) The Effect of Curcumin on the Mobility of a Drosophila Model for Parkinson’s Disease – Erica Gergely and Ellie McClung, Lord Botetourt High School
MATERIALS SCIENCE/CHEMISTRY
First Place (MS 6) Using Montmorillonite Clay to Remediate Algal Blooms – Laila Alam and Emily Duncan, Lord Botetourt High School
MICROBIOLOGY A
First Place (MI-A 2) The Effects of Synthetic Peptide, Pineapple Enzymes, and Vinegar on the Growth and Formation of Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilm – Adison Mayhue, Lord Botetourt High School (and Nicole Scarlatescu, Hidden Valley High School)
PLANT SCIENCES A
First Place (PS-A 1) Evaluation of Cuscuta interaction with Arabidopsis thaliana Expressing RUBY Reporter – Hannah Mizuba and Kane Reczek, Lord Botetourt High School
PLANT SCIENCES B
Second Place (PS-B 6) The Allelopathic Effect of Tagetes patula on the Germination of Solanum lycopersicum – Trey Hipes, James River High School, and Tyler McCarren, Lord Botetourt High School
ANIMAL SCIENCES C
Second Place (AS-C 8) The Effect of Polyethylene Microplastics on C. elegans – Carrie Collins, Lord Botetourt High School (and Mirabel Makked, Salem High School)
COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
Third Place (CB 3) A Phylogenetic Analyisis of the Origin of Neurononal Structures in Basal Holozoa – Brett Smith, Lord Botetourt High School
EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Third Place (ES 7) The removal of silver nanoparticles in water using calcium bentonite – Rhiannon Stowe, Lord Botetourt High School
ENGINEERING MECHANICS A
Second Place (EM-A 4) Self-Playing Ukulele – Kaeli Berry, James River High School (and Meribel Pan, Hidden Valley High School)
ENGINEERING MECHANICS B
Second Place (EM-B 3) Weight Dependent Automatic Sorting System – Kalob Daniels, Lord Botetourt High School (and Seijin Campbell, Franklin County High School)
SYSTEMS SOFTWARE A
Third Place (SS-A 6) Converting English Speech to German Text Using Python – Graham Dietrich, Lord Botetourt High School
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
