Academy students compete at science and engineering fair

Sophomore+Yoland+Gao+displays+his+project+in+which+he+received+first+place+in+the+Earth+and+Planetary+Science+category+at+the+Tidewater+Science+and+Engineering+Fair+on+March+16.

Kathryn Turner

Sophomore Yoland Gao displays his project in which he received first place in the Earth and Planetary Science category at the Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair on March 16.

Science enthusiasts participated in the Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair at Old Dominion University on March 16 against other students in the area.

Ocean Lakes had first place winners for three of the 15 categories, but 32 students attended overall.

“First place in the categories were Pierce Corson in Behavioral and Social Science, Yoland Gao in Earth and Planetary Science, and Kirstof Siska in Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical,” said academy adviser Allison Graves. “We also had a bunch of students who won special awards.”

The first place winners will participate in the state fair on April 6.

“We have three students this year that moved on to states, and they will be going up to represent us then,” said research adviser and chemistry teacher Babette Shoemaker.