Sara Volz, a junior at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs, has won the grand prize in the senior division at the 57th Colorado Science and Engineering Fair at Colorado State University.
Again.
Volz’s topic is titled “Optimizing Algae Bio fuels: Artificial Selection & Nitrogen Stress as Methods to Induce Lipid Synthesis.”
Yes, it’s complicated. Just know that she has shelves and shelves of algae growing in her room and that her mother, Pattye Volz, is happy about that because the 30 beakers used to be on her kitchen counter.
This is Sara’s second year of winning the state grand prize. She’s competed for six years.
“It was awesome, there was a lot of tough competition and I didn’t expect to win again,” she said.
She will compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, May 13-18 in Pittsburgh. Last year, she won first place in the energy and transportation category at the international event.
At the recent Colorado meet, two other Colorado Springs students took home grand prize awards in the junior division (grades 6-8): Marlo Masters, junior grand prize, and Aleesa Muir, third grand prize. Both attend The Classical Academy.
To participate in the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, a student must first be chosen at a regional fair. All students must also adhere to rules set by the Society for Science & the Public, and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair’s Scientific Review Committee.
