Jeanine Longboy heading to Los Angeles for science fair

LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i High School senior Jeanine Longboy and her teacher Alexa Nelson are heading to the International Science and Engineering Fair that will be held in Los Angeles on May 11 through May 17.

The pair will represent Kaua‘i in the 21-project Hawai‘i state delegation that will be competing with about 3,000 projects from all 50 states and U.S. territories, and 87 countries for awards and more than $3 million in scholarships.

Longboy, who topped the Kaua‘i Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall, was joined by 15 other students — representing St. Theresa School, Island School, Kaua‘i High School and Kapa‘a Middle School — at the state science and engineering fair where the Kaua‘i students competed with about 300 students from across Hawai‘i at the 67th Hawai‘i State Science and Engineering Fair.

Longboy’s project labeled “Identifying Photosynthetic Microeukaryotes and Cyanobacteria in the Diet of Tilapia in the ‘Alekoko Fishpond using eDNA” finished in second place in Earth and Environmental Sciences. The project also earned three special awards, including the NOAA Honorable Mention and a $600 scholarship, the Garrett McNamara Foundation Scholarship for $1,000, and the Garrett McNamara Foundation Teacher Scholarship for Nelson amounting to $1,000.

Overall, the Kaua‘i delegation earned several special awards and $2,600 in scholarships, said Dan Matthews the KRSEF Volunteer Director.

Ashley Chun of Island School earned first place honors in Material Science for her “Using Organic Mats to Clean Oil Spills.” The project also garnered an AFCEA Special Award that came with a $500 scholarship.

Kaua‘i High School student Lauryn Hashimoto, whose project earned a trip to the International Science Fair in 2023, ended the state fair earning an Associated Chinese Women University Award of a $200 scholarship.

Tanner Miller of Island School earned an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Junior Division Award that came with $100.

The team of Kiopaa Hermosura and Kellen Nitta from Kapa‘a Middle School earned third place in Earth and Environmental Science for their “The Aquaponic System vs. Soil.”