Van Horn Science Wins Big at Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair

Posted April 8, 2019

Van Horn High School students Taylor Bushart, Bryanna Counts, Jared Huddleston, Mary Johnson and Emily Kilventon each received multiple awards for their impressive work displayed at the Greater Kansas City Science and Engineering Fair! More than 1,000 students from area schools competed in 15 STEM categories. View a complete list of awards here:

  • “The Effect of Xenoestrogen (Estrogen-Mimicking) Environmental Pollutants on Daphnia magna at Varying pH Levels” by Jared Huddleston
    • 1st Place Division Trophy: Earth and Environmental Science Division, GKCSEF
    • 2019 National Exceptional GENIUS Award
      • Jared advances to the GENIUS Olympiad, an international high school project fair on the environment, in New York in June 2019.
    • 2019 Stockholm Jr. Water Prize for Outstanding Water-Related Science Research Project
      • Jared advances to the SJWP State Competition in May 2019.
    • 2019 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) “Taking the Pulse of the Planet” Award
      • Presented to the student whose research has demonstrated the Principles and Technical Innovations that offer the greatest potential for an improved understanding of Earth’s dynamic processes.
  • “The Extraction and Purification of Cucurbita pepo Starch for Bioplastic Production” by Taylor Bushart & Mary Johnson
    • 2019 Society for Science & the Public Award for Community Innovation Award trophy and $500 prize
      • Honors a project that addressed a local concern or problem and demonstrated a positive impact on the local community. Only 30 science fair participants from across the globe this year have been selected for this designation.
    • 2019 Most Outstanding Exhibit in Materials Science from the ASM Materials Education Foundation
    • 2019 Science City Maker Studio Award: Project will be honored at the Maker Faire Showcase in June 2019
    • 2019 Science City Showcase Award: Project will be showcased at Science City in 2019
  • “The Isolation of Anthocyanin from Brassica oleracea for the Detection and Prevention of Dehydration” by Bryanna Counts 
    • 2019 KC Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Award and $50 prize
    • 2019 The Office of Naval Research Naval Science & Mathematics Award and $50 prize
  • “The Development of a Bioinformatic Sleeve for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Rheumatic Diseases” by Emily Kilventon
    • 2019 KS BioGENEius Challenge – 3rd place, April 26th Finals for Region and $150 prize
      • Emily advances to the Kansas BioGENEius Finals on April 26th, where she will compete for the opportunity to advance to the National and International BioGENEius Challenge, happening at the BIO International Convention in Boston, MA this June 4-7, 2018.
    • 2019 United States Air Force Science & Engineering Award for an Outstanding Science or Engineering Project and cell phone accessory prizes
  • 2019 Howard Gadberry Teacher of the Year Award
    • Debbie Cox was honored with the 2019 Howard Gadberry Teacher of the Year award at the 68th Annual Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair on April 6, 2019.