March 8, 2005 News Media Release

Bowie, Grisham Tops at Regional Science Fair

Bowie High School of Austin and Grisham Middle School in Round Rock were the "Sweepstakes" winners at the Austin Energy Regional Science Fair held at Palmer Auditorium February 25-26.

Sweepstakes goes to school in the Junior and Senior High divisions respectively with the highest point totals from each district's winning projects within the 15 science categories. In addition to a trophy, the science department of each school received a $1,000 grant from Austin Energy.

The Austin Energy Regional Science Fair is the largest of 22 regional science fairs held throughout Texas and the only science fair in which Elementary, as well as Junior High and Senior High students can participate. More than 1,900 science project from more than 154 schools and 15 Central Texas school districts were on display. All students participating in the regional fair were winners of science fairs at their respective schools.

Junior and Senior division 1 st , 2 nd or 3 rd place winners at the fair can advance to the state fair, the ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair in San Antonio March 31-April 2. In all, 1 st -5 th place awards were presented in the Junior and Senior divisions along with 29 special awards.

Best of Fair Awards were presented to the two projects judged best among 1 st place winners in all categories in the Senior Division and to the best Senior Division Team project. Best of Fair winners for individual projects were Megan Pendleton of Vista Ridge High School in Leander and Jacob McGregor of Bowie High School in Austin. The Best of Fair Team Project award was won by Edward Schmerling, Jennifer Schmerling and Sarah Spikes of LBJ High School in Austin. Best of Fair winners advance automatically to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona this May. The Synopsys Corporation of Austin pays the travel expenses of Best of Fair winners to the International fair with a $10,000 grant.

For the first time, " Superintendent Awards " were presented by the Superintendents from four of the school districts participating in the Fair. The awards were presented by each Superintendent for the best projects from his or her schools as selected by the Superintendent and their staff.

Winners of Superintendent Awards:

Austin Independent School District
Elementary Division - Matthew Martinez, Galindo Elementary
Junior Division- Sam Morrison, Lamar Middle School
Senior Division - Evelyne Kane, Bowie High School

Pflugerville Independent School District
Elementary Division- Hunter Sims and Ke'Vion Crenshaw-Harris,

Copperfield Elementary
Junior Division - Sheyda Aboii, Dessau Middle School
Senior Division- Christopher Corales, Sishira Mannuru,
Christopher Lorn, Connally High

Leander Independent School District
Elementary Division - Luke Hartman - Laura Bush Elementary
Senior Division - Megan Pendleton, Vista Ridge High

Bastrop Independent School District
Elementary Division - Anthony Valentine, Emile Elementary

The Austin Energy Regional Science Festival is organized and managed by Austin Energy as a public service to education in Austin and Central Texas. In addition, the promotion of science and engineering assist in development of the future workforce necessary to meet the needs of the energy and technology sectors of our state and nation.

The science festival requires more than 500 judges and volunteers from businesses, organizations and educational institutions across Austin and the surrounding community. The Fair would not be possible without their assistance.

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For more information, contact Ed Clark, Public Information.
Phone: (512) 322-6514
Pager: (512) 802-2000