In an effort to promote interest in and support of the petroleum industry, API-Delta Chapter initiated a Special Award for the Greater New Orleans Science & Engineering Fair relating to oil and gas industry topics. The award is included in the Local Award category and provides monetary contributions to projects relating to the oil and gas industry. The recipient of the award, their teacher, and the school, each receive a monetary contribution in an effort to educate students about the energy industry and careers available.
The 50th Greater New Orleans Science & Engineering Fair was held March 1-3, 2005 at Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena. This year was the first year Petroleum Engineering was classified as a category. Though exhibits were not submitted under this category, API judges chose winners from over 20 exhibits whose subject matter pertained to the energy industry. Our goal, though our generous awards and recognition of teachers and schools, is to help establish a strong petroleum science category in 2006. This year’s awards and recipients include:
Chairman’s Award – Betsy Lopez received $150 for her project entitled “Determination of the Ability to Use Pontederia as Biomarkers for Monitoring Trace Heavy Metals in Jefferson Parish Drainage Canals Using Acid”. Ms. Lopez is a junior at East Jefferson High School and also won 1st place in the category of environmental science. API-Delta awarded East Jefferson $300 as well as her teacher, Cheryl Offner $150.
The Distinguished Project was awarded to Thien Nguyen for his project “The Effect of Tower Designs on the structural Efficiency”. Mr. Nguyen, a freshman at John Ehret High School, received $100 and his high school received $200. His teacher, Don Comeaux, will receive $100.
The API-Delta’s Honorable Mention award went to Rachel Caronnet-Baker for her exhibit “The Permeability and Porosity of Different Soil Textures.” Rachel received $50, her school Ben Franklin will receive $100 and her teacher, LaWana Stewart will receive $50. Ms. Caronnet-Baker is a junior and also won 3rd place in.
In addition to the above mentioned monetary awards, recipients received certificates, trophies, T-shirts, and educational materials pertaining to the energy industry. Teachers and principals of the winning projects will receive their awards and recognition at the upcoming Teacher Awards event which API-Delta will sponsor on April 26th.
API-Delta is dedicated to educating students on the importance of energy and the exciting careers available in petroleum science. The program is under our Education Committee, chaired by Cathy Vaughn. Jan Catalano, Bernadette Alaniz ,and Carlos Guzman are responsible for the science fair.
Congratulations to all of the 2005 Science & Engineering Fair recipients!