Yuma Einsteins take home scholarships from science fair

A budding engineer dreams of working with missiles one day just like his dad, so he's getting an early start now. He's building rubber-band catapults that win big prizes.

The fact that Sean Franklin's catapults earned the grand prize at a science fair this weekend probably came as no surprise. His project was impressive. But what might have shocked a few adults was hearing this young man talk science like an MIT freshman - at just 13 years old.

"I learned a lot about physics and I learned a lot about velocity and ballistic trajectory," Franklin said shortly after winning the Yuma County Science Fair on Saturday. "My hypothesis was that a longer arm on the catapult would be ideal for range and that was proven true, based on angular velocity."

Franklin's project not only won first place in the physics division, but the Ron Watson Middle School student also went home with the Best of Show Award.

The Yuma County Science Fair was held Friday and Saturday at Arizona Western College. Awards were judged on the basis of scientific thought, skill, thoroughness, creative ability and presentation, according to Debbie Webber, an event organizer.

This was the second year that scholarships were offered to high school students for their winning projects. Scholarships were given out by the AWC Foundation and the University of Arizona.

Franklin said that he was so surprised to hear his name called during the awards ceremony that he didn't even budge from his chair.

"It took me a second to respond. I didn't know what to do," he said, laughing. "I was really happy about it, though. This has been the most exciting year for me."

But competing in science fairs - and doing well - isn't new for Franklin. A few years back he participated in a science fair that required students to create projects with scientific themes that have real-world applications in their lives. So Franklin did some product testing on kitty litter.

"It would help me in everyday life with my chores," he explained.

Another science fair had Franklin studying how surface area and other factors affect the descent rate of parachutes.

"For me I love science and math because they are technical and things are what they are. There aren't any differences or as much as in history or literature. Science to me is how you learn more about the planet that we're on."


----
Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.
----
WINNERS IN THE 2008 YUMA COUNTY SCIENCE FAIR

-Elementary

-Chemistry/ biochemistry
Emili Frandsen and Celine Corea: Desert View Academy
Christian Galindo: Immaculate Conception School

-Earth/environmental
Hanah Martinez and Bianca Peralta: Desert View Academy
Cameron Wiles: Yuma Lutheran
Matthew Joynt: Yuma Lutheran

-Zoology
Kaleb Cheung and Cameron Alford: Yuma Lutheran
Bradley Favish: Desert Mesa Elementary
Aubrey Hicks and Angelia Jumbeck: Desert Mesa Elementary

-Botany
Marco A. Yescas: Desert View Academy
Hunter McDaniel: Desert View Academy
Sophia Bernardo: Otondo School

-Engineering/technology
John Sanchez: Rolle School
Ryan Giacolone: Desert Mesa Elementary
Cayla Bradford: Castle Dome Middle School

-Health/medicine/ microbiology
Ashley Huber: Castle Dome Middle School
Corina Croft and Luz Ponce: Tierra del Sol
Dalton York and Anthony Espana: Mohawk Valley

-Physics
Zachary Compton and Kyle Penney: Yuma Lutheran
Laura Boteo and Angela Padilla: Rancho Viejo School
Antonio Vega and Riley Dieckhoff: Desert Mesa Elementary


-Middle School

-Chemistry/biochemistry
Marcel Essak: Immaculate Conception School
Jeffrey Sauter: St. Francis of Assisi School
Kaitlan Evitch: Immaculate Conception School

-Zoology
Lindsey Solano: Castle Dome Middle School

-Botany
Mary Mallek: St. Francis of Assisi School
Christina Nolasco: Castle Dome Middle School

-Engineering/technology
Saul Albor and Zack Bode: Centennial Middle School
Mackenzie Brazeel: St. Francis of Assisi School
Brady McClellan: Ron Watson Middle School

-Health/medicine/ microbiology
Kaycee McNutt: Castle Dome Middle School
Ashley Goetter: St. Francis of Assisi School
Karina Merino: St. Francis of Assisi School

-Physics
Sean Franklin: Ron Watson Middle School
Phillip Hoovestol: St. Francis of Assisi School
Karen Beltran: Southwest Junior High


-High School

-Chemistry/biochemistry
Abigail Wepiz: Yuma High School
Malina Montenegro: Yuma High School

-Earth/environmental
Taylor Baldwin and Jacob Baldwin: Yuma High School

-Engineering/technology
Kyle Reinertson: Yuma High School

-Health/medicine/ microbiology
Kasey Fry: Yuma High School

-Physics
Rachel Land: Yuma High School
Geoffrey Warneking: Carpe Diem Academy