Alexandria, Va., May 22, 2003 -- The Water Environment Federation (WEF) proudly announces the 2003 U.S. State Winners of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize - the most prestigious youth award for a water-related science project.
WEF Member Associations selected and most will sponsor state winners to enter the national competition in Dallas, Texas, June 5-7. The U.S. winner will receive $2,500 and an all expense paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden for the International competition. (See attached list of State Winners and project titles.)
"The Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition is an important element in WEF's continuing efforts to attract young professionals into the water quality field," said WEF Executive Director, Bill Bertera, "the competition promotes academic excellence and environmental stewardship, which will benefit not only the individual but the entire environmental and public health community as well."
The purpose of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize is to increase students' interest in water-related issues and research, and to sensitize them - as future leaders - to global water challenges. The competition for the SJWP award is open to projects aimed at improving the quality of life through improvement of water quality, water resources management, water protection or water and wastewater treatment.
In the United States, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and its Member Associations, organize the U.S. National, State, and Regional SJWP competitions with support from The Coca-Cola Company and ITT Industries who is also the international sponsor. Internationally, HRH Crown Princess Victoria is the patron of the prize. In a royal ceremony, during World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, August 9 - 15, 2003, the international winner will receive $5,000 (USD).
For more information about the SJWP competition, please visit www.StockholmJuniorWaterPrize.org
U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize state winners 2003
Alaska-Laura Daum, grade 11
West Valley High School, Fairbanks, AK
Project Title: Growth and Mineralization Characteristics of Aerobic toluene and Diesel-Degrading Bacteria from Williams Refinery Groundwater
Awarding Organization: Alaska Water Environment Association
Arizona-Tyler Jorgenson, grade 12
Buena High School, Sierra Vista, AZ
Project Title: Reduction of Estrogenic Activity Through the Wastewater Treatment Process
Awarding Organization: Arizona Water and Pollution Control Association
Arkansas-J. Grant Ballard, grade 11
Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock, AR
Project Title: Troubled Waters: A Three-Year Study of The Fourche Creek Biosphere
Awarding Organization: Arkansas Water Environment Association
California- to be announced May 26
Colorado-Jessica Sidman, grade 11
Palmer High School, Colorado Springs, CO
Project Title: The Filtering Effects of Anodonta grandis
Awarding Organization: Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association
Connecticut-Igor Zelenberg, grade 12
Stamford High School, Stamford, CT
Project Title: Trophic Level Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation in Long Island Sound's Great Meadows Marsh
Awarding Organization: New England Water Environment Association
Florida-Patrick L. Geer, grade 11
Wellington Community High School, Wellington, FL
Project Title: Phosphorous Removal from Everglades Agricultural Area Farm Drainage Water: A Third Year Study
Awarding Organization: Florida Water Environment Association
Georgia-Heather Mispagel, grade 12
Oconee County High School, Watkinsville, GA
Project Title: Antibiotic Resistance from Sewage
Awarding Organization: Georgia Water and Pollution Control Association
Hawaii-Kiana Frank, grade 11
Kamehameha High School, Honolulu, HI
Project Title: The Effect of Agricultural and Residential Runoff on the Microbiology of a Hawaiian Ahupua'a
Awarding Organization: Hawaii Water Environment Association
Illilnois- Daria Zelasko, grade 12
Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove, IL
Project Title: Algae: Nature's Filter
Awarding Organization: Illinois Water Environment Association
Indiana-Jennifer Nuest, grade 12
Kouts High School, Kouts, IN
Project Title: Biosolids IV: The Heavy Metals Implications of Agricultural Land Application
Awarding Organization: Indiana Water Enviornment Association
Louisiana-Jeanne Caire, grade 12
Hahnville High School, Boutte, LA
Project Title: What Effect Does Bagasse (Sugar Cane Waste) Have on the Water Clarification Process?
Awarding Organization: Louisiana Water Environment Association
Maryland-Sarah Brownlee, grade 11
Calvert High School, Prince Frederick, MD
Project Title: The Effects of Phosphorus and Salinity of Epiphyte Growth on Vallisneria Americana
Awarding Organization: Chesapeake Water Environment Association
Massachusetts-Matthew E. DeSilva, grade 10
Taunton High School, Taunton, MA
Project Title: How Effective is Lobster Shell Chitin in Filtering out Wastewater Metallic Ions? - Phase III
Awarding Organization: New England Water Environment Association
Michigan-Yolanda Marie Brooks, grade 12
Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, Saginaw, MI
Project Title: Phase II: Bioremediation of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Pollutants in the Saginaw River
Awarding Organization: Michigan Water Environment Association
Minnesota-Elizabeth Jean Welsh, grade 10
Proctor High School, Proctor, MN
Project Title: The effect of aerated barley straw liquor on Selenastrum capricornutum (green algae)
Awarding Organization: Central States Water Environment Associaton
Mississippi-Sarah Bounds, grade 12
Mercy Cross High School, Biloxi, MS
Project Title: Effects of Nonpoint Source Pollution on Constructed Coastal Marsh Systems
Awarding Organization: Mississippi Water Environment Association
Missouri-Rachel Sass, grade 9
Mid-Buchanan High School, Faucett, MO
Project Title: What's in your water?
Awarding Organization: Missouri Water Environment Association
Montana-Alexandra Hope Antonioli, grade 12
Butte High School, Butte, MT
Project Title: An Investigation of the Remediation of Berkeley Pit Water Using Genetically Modified Extremophilic Organisms
Awarding Organization: Montana Water Environment Association
Nebraska-Emily Gubbels, grade 11
Laurel-Concord Public Schools, Laurel, NE
Project Title: The Biohazardous Effects Cigarette Filters Have on Daphnia Magna
Awarding Organization: Nebraska Water Environment Association
Nevada-David Weis, grade 9
Clark High School, Las Vegas, NV
Project Title: The Purity of Drinking Water in Las Vegas
Awarding Organization: Nevada Water Environment Association
New Jersey-Sobia Sadat Sarmast, grade 11
Academy of Science and Technology, Hackensack, NJ
Project Title: Titanium Dioxide Assisted Photocatalytic Destruction of Azo Dyes
Awarding Organization: New Jersey Water Environment Association
New Mexico-Brandi Bahringer, grade 9
Deming High School, Deming, NM
Project Title: The remediation of arsenic contaminated water utilizing Datura stramonium dry plant material
Awarding Organization: Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association
New York-Diana Ruano, grade 12
Uniondale High School, Uniondale, NY
Project Title: Greener Than Green: A Novel Approach to the Use of Natural Substances as Plant Growth Regulators in the Family Poaceae to Facilitate Areas in Reducing Water Surface Pollution Caused by Runoff
Awarding Organization: New York Water Environment Association
North Dakota-Jaime Jensen, grade 10
Home School, Devils Lake, ND
Project Title: A Succession Study of Rotifera in Relation to Changing Water Quality
Awarding Organization: North Dakota Water Environment Association
Ohio-Valerie M. Andrus, grade 10
Beaumont High School, Cleveland Heights, OH
Project Title: A Bioremediation Study of Parking Lot and Highway Catch Basin Runoff Water
Awarding Organization: Ohio Water Environment Association
Oklahoma-Kristin King, grade 11
Byng High School, Ada, OK
Project Title: Water Quality of a First-Order Stream Within a Watershed Altered by Petroleum Production and Agriculture
Awarding Organization: Oklahoma Water Envionment Association
Oregon-Katie Herbage, grade 10
Gold Beach High School, Gold Beach, OR
Project Title: Wood Fiber Filters as Water Contaminant Removal Systems
Awarding Organization: Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association
Pennsylvania-Kelsey Gibbons
Parkland High School, Allentown, PA
Project Title: Even Cleaner H20 Ahead
Awarding Organization: Pennsylvania Water Environment Association
Rhode Island-Paul Magyar, grade 10
Classical High School, Providence, RI
Project Title: Analysis of Dissolved Organic Matter and Dissolved Copper in Narragansett
Awarding Organization: New England Water Environment Association
South Carolina-Leslie M. Mahaffey, grade 12
Greenville Senior High School, Greenville, SC
Project Title: A Study of Water Quality and Multiple Antimicrobial Resistant Patterns in Bacterial Isolates from the Reedy River
Awarding Organization: Water Environment Association of South Carolina
South Dakota-Kaitlynn Krack, grade 10
Hamlin High School, Hayti, SD
Project Title: Hamlin County Watershed Analysis
Awarding Organization: South Dakota Water Environment Association
Tennessee-Christine A. Li, grade 9
Cookeville High School, Cookeville, TN
Project Title: GIS 3D Modeling of Water Quality
Awarding Organization: Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association
Texas-Sean Raj, grade 11
Hightower High School, Missouri City, TX
Project Title: Bottled Water: How Safe Is It?
Awarding Organization: Water Environment Association of Texas
Utah-Shannon Babb, grade 9
Mountain Ridge Junior High School, Highland, UT
Project Title: A Six Month Water Quality Study of the Inlets and Outlet of Utah Lake
Awarding Organization: Water Environment Association of Utah
Vermont-Luke Thornblade, grade 12
Fair Haven Union, Fair Haven, VT
Project Title: Arsenic Problem
Awarding Organization: New England Water Environment Association
Virginia-Jean Folsom, grade 11
Yorktown High School, Arlington, VA
Project Title: A Study of the Phytoremediative Properties of the Water Hyacinth
Awarding Organization: Virginia Water Environment Association
Washington-Kacee Jo Bootsma, grade 10
Sunnyside High School, Sunnyside, WA
Project Title: Reduction of textile pollution with natural products
Awarding Organization: Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association
Wyoming-Jordan Hunter, grade 11
Greybull High School, Greybull, WY
Project Title: Water Quality Improvement Through Zeolite Induced Viral Reduction
Awarding Organization: Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes water quality professionals from 79 Member Associations in over 30 countries.
