Three OHS student scientists are among 16 symposium delegates

Only 16 students were selected by Washington state to be delegates at the 55th Washington Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Every year, Washington students send between 200-300 research papers with the primary aim of promoting original research experimentation in the sciences, engineering and mathematics at the high school level and to publicly recognize students for outstanding achievement. Each of the 48 regional symposia, as well as the national program, provide a forum for high school students to present the results of their original research in science, engineering, mathematics, psychology and the social sciences. Students who participate also have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas, interact with practicing researchers and explore future academic and career opportunities. Every year, the Regional Symposium is held in Seattle at Seattle Pacific University March 16-17, and those hundreds of papers are narrowed down to only 16 presenters.

This year, Odessa High School senior Cole Kissler and junior Kiegan Wehr were each selected by Dr. Ray Myers and the Washington symposium to be a PowerPoint oral presenter and delegate at the Washington Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.

Kissler's engineering research is entitled: "Engineering a Seafloor-Tethered Hydro-Electric Generator," while Wehr's agricultural research is: "The Effect of Grey Water in Hydroponics as an Environmental Conservation of Land, Water and Cost." Along with Kissler and Wehr, OHS senior Elizabeth Larson was also selected to present her research in the form of a poster board. Larson's computer science research project is entitled, "Programming a Website to Purchase Online through the SmartPhone Text Messaging Model." All of these students' research has already earned top awards at a variety of regional and state science events.

These three students in the OHS advanced STEM research class were selected for the symposium after preparing and submitting a written report in accordance with the symposium's guidelines and will deliver a concise oral presentation to the symposium. The top three oral presentation winners as well as the top poster board presentation winner at the Washington state symposium will be invited to present at the National symposium held this year in San Diego, Calif.

Science teacher Jeffery Wehr and all students within the Odessa Science Department and the Advanced STEM Research Laboratory appreciate the continued support from the administration, staff, school board and the entire Odessa Community. Follow the students' scientific updates daily on Twitter: @ohsASR.