WEF Member Associations Send Aspiring Water Scientists To The U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize National Competition

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) proudly announces the 2014 state winners of the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP)—the most prestigious youth award for a water-related science project (see complete list below). WEF Member Associations (MAs) selected and will sponsor state winners and their science teachers to attend the national competition that will be held June 13-14 in Herndon, Va.

The purpose of the SJWP program is to increase students’ interest in water-related issues and research and to raise awareness about global water challenges. The competition is open to projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life through improvement of water quality, water resources management, water protection, and water and wastewater treatment.

“WEF congratulates these talented state winners, who represent some of the best and brightest minds in water science today,” said WEF President Sandra Ralston. “We wish them the best of luck at the national competition and are very grateful for the continued support of our MAs who are so vital to the success of this important program.”

The U.S. winner will receive $15,000 (USD) and an all-expenses-paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden with their teacher where he/she will represent the United States at the international competition during World Water Week, Aug. 31-Sept. 5, 2014. The international winner will receive $5,000 (USD) presented during a royal ceremony by the prize’s Patron HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

The Bjorn von Euler Innovation in Water Scholarship Award, a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Xylem Inc., will be also awarded to the SJWP state winner who demonstrates a passion for education, spirit of creativity, and innovation.

In the United States, WEF and its Member Associations organize the national, state, and regional SJWP competitions with support from Xylem Inc., who is also the international sponsor. For more information, visit www.wef.org.

About WEF
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF members, Member Associations and staff proudly work to achieve our mission to provide bold leadership, champion innovation, connect water professionals, and leverage knowledge to support clean and safe water worldwide.

United States 2014 Stockholm Junior Water Prize State Winners

Alabama
Megan Lange
Removal of BTEX from Storm Water using Nano-Particle Enhanced Reactive Porous Concrete
Auburn High School
Teacher – Mark Jones
Sponsored by the Alabama Water Environment Association

Alaska
Amber White
The Effects of Oil Contamination on Amphipod (Amphipoda) and Isopod (Isopoda) Behavior
Thunder Mountain High School
Science Teacher – Topez Shryock
Sponsored by the Alaska Water Wastewater Management Association

Arizona
Katelyn Boisvert
Climate Change Threatens Marine Ecosystems- The Impact of Rising Sea Surface Temperature and Altered Nutrient Availability on the Abundance and Growth Behavior of the Phytoplankton Thalassiosira
Chandler Preparatory Academy
Science Teacher – Mark Wallington
Sponsored by the AZ Water

Arkansas
Cortland Mathis
Plain or Porous Phase III: A study of the effects of that regular paved parking lot has on our water sources compared to the new porous paved parking lots
Alpena High School
Science Teacher – Mark Welch
Sponsored by the Arkansas Water Environment Association

California
Beatrice Choi
Electronic Tongue: Tastes of Toxic Metal Ions in Water
University High School
Science Teacher – Brenda Royce
Sponsored by the California Water Environment Association

Colorado
Hope Weinstein
Zero Valent Iron Nanoparticle Enhanced Polyethersulfone Membranes for Water Filtration: Optimizing the Effects of Casting Parameters for Global Applications
Fairview High School
Science Teacher – Paul Strode
Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association

Connecticut
Bridget Oei
Investigating the Efficacy of Bioluminescent Mushroom Panellus Stipticus as a Biosensor to Detect the Toxicity of Water Contaminants
East Catholic High School
Science Teacher – Lesa Milas
Sponsored by the New England Water Environment Association

Delaware
Lucy Sullivan
Effects of Water Speed and Other Factors on pH Levels of Yosemite National Park Water
The Charter School of Wilmington
Science Teacher - Jennifer Toner
Sponsored by the Chesapeake Water Environment Association

District of Columbia
Diamond Sullivan
Urban Scale Algae Turf Scrubber
Schools Without Walls
Science Teacher – Sydney Bergman
Sponsored by the Chesapeake Water Environment Association

Florida
Zachary Loeb
Preventing the Global Reproductive Failure of Aquatic Life through the Catalytic Treatment of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Municipal Waste Water
Viera High School
Science Teacher – Elizabeth Youngs
Sponsored by the Florida Water Environment Association

Georgia
Malcolm Barnard
Utilization of Spirogyra grevilleana as a Method of Algal Filtration for Reduction of Limnotic Escherichia coli Levels
Johns Creek High School
Science Teacher – Tim Maley
Sponsored by the Georgia Association of Water Professionals

Hawaii
Nalani Kaku
Analyzing Environmental Stresses on the Reef-Building Coral Porites compressa:
Resilience to Diel pH Levels
Kamehameha Schools Kapalama High School
Science Teacher – Gail Ishimoto
Sponsored by the Hawaii Water Environment Association

Illinois
Sruti Mohan
The Effect of Biochar on Water Filtration
Neuqua Valley
Science Teacher – Jacklyn Naughton
Sponsored by the Illinois Water Environment Association

Indiana
Aidan Reilly
An Evaluation on the Effect of Nutrient Supplementation on Hexane-Contaminated Lake Water Using a Carbon Fiber Cloth Biofilm with Indigenous Bacteria
John Adams High School
Science Teacher – Nevin Longenecker
Sponsored by the Indiana Water Environment Association

Iowa
Kelsey Bryant
The Effectiveness of Moringa oleifera in Purification of Turbid Water Phase II
Central Lee High School
Science Teacher – Alicia Schiller
Sponsored by the Iowa Water Pollution Control Association

Kansas
No winner
Entries did not meet competition qualifications
Sponsored by the Kansas Water Environment Association

Kentucky
Ellen Kendall
Copper Removal by Alginate Beads
Notre Dame Academy
Science Teacher – Sr. Mary Ethel Parrott
Sponsored by the Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association

Louisiana
Alexis Lang and Joshua Hartley
Go With The Flow...Can Freshwater Diversion Water Flow be Used to Create Green Energy?
John Curtis Christian
Science Teacher – Cathy Boucvalt
Sponsored by the Louisiana Water Environment Association

Maine
Mary Butler
Cellulose Nanofibers (CNF) as a Component of an Inexpensive and Sustainable Water Filtration System
Bangor High School
Science Teacher - Cary James
Sponsored by the New England Water Environment Association

Maryland
Jack Andraka and Chloe Diggs
A Novel Microfluidic Biosensor for Environmental Contaminants PLUS Development and Optimization of an Ultra-Inexpensive Plastic Water Filter to Remediate Water Pollution Sustainably
North County High School
Science Teacher – Beth Kennedy
Sponsored by the Chesapeake Water Environment Association

Massachusetts
No winner
Entries did not meet competition qualifications
Sponsored by the New England Water Environment Association

Michigan
Anuush Vejalla
Arsenic Contamination in Rice through Water: Developing a Novel Testing Method and Analyzing Arsenic Levels in Rice
Detroit Country Day Upper School
Science Teacher – John Dougherty
Sponsored by the Michigan Water Environment Association

Minnesota
Christine Neumann and Crystal Moynan
What effect does gender, tone, and sound location have on the response behavior of Neogobius melanostomus (Round Goby) and the possibility of future trapping of this invasive species in Lake Superior?
Cloquet Senior High School
Science Teacher – Cynthia Welsh
Sponsored by the Central States Water Environment Association

Mississippi
Elizabeth Moore
Possible human impact on degradation of surface water quality – Novel bacterial analysis with ongoing chemical and macroinvertebrate analyses of Weeks Bayou sub-watershed
Ocean Springs High School
Science Teacher – Bryan Butler
Sponsored by the Mississippi Water Environment Association

Missouri
Katie Chappell
Marine Reserves: A Photographic Survey to Determine the Efficacy of the Glovers Reef Atoll Marine Reserve (Belize) on Coral Diversity and Abundance
Camdenton High School
Science Teacher – Chris Reeves
Sponsored by the Missouri Water Environment Association

Montana
Brenna DeMarois
Sea Shell Filter Used To Remove Caffeine from Wastewater
Sentinel High School
Science Teacher – Kate Dircksen
Sponsored by the Montana Water Environment Association

Nebraska
Brooke Pieke
The Effect of Lemnaceae on Overall Water Quality Part ll: The Loss of Nitrate Nitrogen through Decomposition
Newman Grove High School
Science Teacher – Danielle Amen
Sponsored by the Nebraska Water Environment Association

Nevada
Kelly Schmidt
Fruit Filters: Adsorption of Copper from Water Using Banana, Apple, and Orange Peels
Elko High School
Teacher – Paul Hughes
Sponsored by the Nevada Water Environment Association

New Hampshire
Deepika Kurup
A Novel Photocatalytic Pervious Composite for Degrading Organics and Inactivating Bacteria in Wastewater
Nashua High School South
Teacher – Linda Polewarczyk
Sponsored by the New England Water Environment Association

New Jersey
Michelle Moffa
Fabrication and Modification of Cellulose Nanofibers for Antifouling Water Purification Membranes
Holy Spirit High School
Science Teacher – Donna Ljoka
Sponsored by the New Jersey Water Environment Association

New Mexico
Hannah Harper
#WaterProbs
Rio Rancho High School
Science Teacher – Jennifer Miyashiro
Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association

New York
Catherine Chung
Not a Drop to Drink: The Challenge of Building a Low-Cost Solar Still to Supply Potable Water in Developing Countries
Yorktown High School
Science Teacher – Michael Blueglass
Sponsored by the New York Water Environment Association

North Carolina
Margaret Pan
Optimizing the Synthesis of Flat-Sheet Phase Inversion Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Membranes for Membrane Distillation
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Science Teacher – Myra Halpin
Sponsored by the North Carolina Water Environment Association

North Dakota
Gage Metzen
The Natural Decontamination of Industrial and Agricultural Water Hankinson Public School
Science Teacher – Patty Kratcha
Sponsored by the North Dakota Water Environment Association

Ohio
Bluyé DeMessie
Developing a Sustainable Water Cleaning System for use in Rural Areas of Low Income Countries
William Mason High School
Science Teacher – George Sorial
Sponsored by the Ohio Water Environment Association

Oklahoma
Jeffrey Holleman
Evaluating Resistance to Triclosan in Selected Bacteria and Aquatic Samples Isolated from Pre and Post Water Treatment Effluent
Cascia Hall Preparatory School
Science Teacher - Sally Fenska
Sponsored by the Oklahoma Water Environment Association

Oregon
Ajay Krishnan
From Waste to Electricity and Hydrogen Gas: A Novel Power Management Device for Microbial Fuel Cell-Microbial Electrolysis Cell Coupled Systems
Oregon Episcopal School
Science Teacher – Catherine Molloseau
Sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association

Pennsylvania
Maya Rao
A Novel Method for Rapid Quantification of Coliform Bacteria using Nanotechnology Hempfield High School
Science Teacher – Neal Kuhn
Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Water Environment Association

Puerto Rico


Alondra Concepcion
Comparison of the Effect of Aluminum, Cadmium, Lead, Nickel and Zinc in the Development of Gallus gallus domesticus embryo
Colegio Marista
Science Teacher –Isabel Pérez
Sponsored by the Puerto Rico Water & Environment Association

Rhode Island
No winner
Entries did not meet competition qualifications
Sponsored by the New England Water Environment Association

South Carolina
Jedidiah Gist and Benjamin Fetcher
Wastewater sanitation and nutrient reintegration via superporous filtration
Spring Valley High School
Science Teacher – Michelle Spigner
Sponsored by the Water Environment Association of South Carolina

South Dakota
Madison Hahler
Survey of Nitrates Effect on Freshwater Samples Phase 2
Northwestern
Science Teacher – Denise Clemens
Sponsored by the South Dakota Water Environment Association

Tennessee
Ayushi Sinha
Zebra Mussels
Girls Preparatory School
Science Teacher – Sonya Steele
Sponsored by the Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association

Texas
Kushal Kadakia
Heavy Metal Removal Using Fe3O4 Nanoparticles III
Clear Lake High School
Science Teacher – Deborah Borrmann
Sponsored by the Water Environment Association of Texas

Utah
Bovey Rao
Investigation of Different Degradation Treatments on Pesticide Contaminated Water with Toxicity Bioassay on Daphnia magna
Hillcrest High School
Science Teacher – Jami Smith
Sponsored by the Water Environment Association of Utah

Vermont
Nevil Desai
Bioremediation: Using Strains of Pseudomonas on Oil Spills
South Burlington High School
Science Teacher - Curtis Belton
Sponsored by the New England Water Environment Association

Virgin Islands
Selesha Subniak
Mitigating an Oil Spill
The Good Hope School
Science Teacher – Jane Coles
Sponsored by the Virgin Island Water and Power Authority

Virginia
Valentina Lohr
Testing the Scientific Basis for Phosphate Fertilizer Regulation in Estuarine Watersheds
Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Science Teacher – Barbara Wood
Sponsored by the Virginia Water Environment Association

Washington
Meera Srinivasan
Investigating the Sublethal Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) on Salmon Using Zebrafish as a Model Organism
Interlake High School
Science Teacher – Tia Thiel
Sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association

West Virginia
Emma Mathers
Purification of Chemically and Bacterially Contaminated Waters Using Organic Filtration Materials
Morgantown High School
Science Teacher – Joseph Melia
Sponsored by the West Virginia Water Environment Association

Wisconsin
Alex Booton and Cameron Palmer
Clearwater
“Utilizing Graphene as a Method of Desalination”
Muskego High School
Science Teacher – Karen Lindholm-Rynkiewicz
Sponsored by the Central States Water Environment Association

Wyoming
Cierra Carlson
Nanofiber Cellulose Zero Valent Iron Filtration: Potential for Reduction of Water Borne Particulate and Microbial Contaminates
Greybull High School
Science Teacher – Joel Kuper
Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association