Altamont School science students have won top awards this year at several major fairs and competitions.
Altamont’s Robotics and Engineering program won first place in the UAB BEST Robotics Competition with its robot, “The Hauler.” The robot had several key innovations, such as a rack and pinion data collection port and hand cut coaster wheels.
Altamont competed in the University of Alabama Regional Science Olympiad Feb. 12. Simon Tomlinson placed first in Compute This; Nathan Sorscher and Alden Dowdy placed second in Microbe Mission; Jonathan Horowitz and Andy Vahle placed second in Solar System; Nathan Sorscher and Will Pannell placed fourth in Disease Detective; and Harlan Brown and Jordan Booth placed fourth in Ornithology.
The 2011 Regional Science Paper Reading Competition, involving a PowerPoint presentation and paper defense, was held at Altamont Feb. 15. Rakesh Goli placed first in biology; Peter Johnsen placed first in physical science; Shawn Tuteja placed first in engineering; and Olivia Dure placed second in humanities, medicine and health.
At the state competition in Jacksonville March 3-4, Peter Johnsen placed first in physical science; Olivia Dure placed first in humanities, medicine and health; and Shawn Tuteja placed first in engineering.
Peter Johnsen and Shawn Tuteja each received a state Gorgas Award. Only three Gorgas Awards are given each year. Tuteja also earned a paid trip to nationals in San Diego April 27– May 1.
At the 2011 UAB Regional Science Fair March 5, Altamont students who won division awards qualified for the state fair.
Senior division winners were: Olivia Dure, first place in medicine and health; Rakesh Goli, first place in biology; Peter Johnsen, first place in chemistry; Leah Swinford and Addison Pollard, third place in behavioral science; and Ellis Powell, third place in earth science.
Junior division winners were: Will Pannell, first place in energy; Maclaine Fields, second place in medicine and health; and Josie Niedermeier, second place in behavioral science.
Senior division honorable mentions went to Ruthie Gresham-Jacobs in behavioral science and Laure Bender in chemistry. Junior division honorable mentions went to Mihir Limdi in medicine and health, Molly Kauper and Katie O’Neal in behavioral science and Sydney Calhoun in chemistry.
Ellis Powell and Peter Johnsen received Stockholm Water Society Awards, and Powell also received the International Sustainable World Award for Excellence in Environmental Research.
Olivia Dure and Rakesh Goli earned Intel International Awards, which are invitations to the International Science Fair in Los Angeles May 8-13. Goli was elected vice president of the Alabama Junior Academy of Sciences.
Mohit Limdi co-authored “Warfarin Dosing in Patients with Impaired Kidney Disease,” which documents a year-long study of how the kidneys affect liver function. His article was published in the American Journal of Kidney Disease, the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation.
Peter Johnsen was named a Siemens Semi-Finalist, one of three from Alabama and the only student selected from Birmingham. He was also named an Intel Semi-Finalist, one of 300 in the country and the only student selected from Alabama.
