Two Area Students Win Honors

Two area students are award winners, after they presented their work at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in Phoenix.

Richland High School sophomore Zoe Gotthold won one of three $3,000 first-place awards in the environmental engineering category at the fair, for her research on techniques for the treatment of oil spills. She was invited to present her work at ISEF after receiving the Grand Champion prize at the Mid-Columbia Regional Science Fair.

Hanford High School freshman Nikhita Bontha won a $500 fourth place award for her work on improving fuel cells. She previously took the top prize at the Washington State Science & Engineering Fair this spring, entitling her to compete at ISEF. Nikhita also won a $500 prize from the Patent & Trademark Office Society.

More than 1,800 students in Grades 9-12 annually compete at ISEF, the world’s largest international pre-college science competition.