This Saturday, seven students from Heritage and E. C. Glass high schools will arrive at Old Dominion University, posters in tow, for the Virginia State Science & Engineering Fair (VSSF). Emerging victorious from the 51st annual Central Virginia Regional Science Fair (CVRSF) last month, each will get another chance to showcase the projects they’ve worked on all year long–this time at the state level.
Up against 80 high schoolers from Amherst County, Appomattox County, Bedford County, Campbell County, and Virginia Episcopal School, Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) students celebrated tremendous victories in the regional competition. Fifteen students placed in their categories, and two were named grand award recipients.
Heritage High junior Micajah Mason was named the Grand Award Finalist in Physical Sciences and will advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Dallas, Texas May 14-19. E. C. Glass High junior Lilly Wood won the Grand Alternate Award in Biological Sciences. See the list of CVRSF award winners from LCS below.
Mason is one of just two Grand Award Finalists who will represent Central Virginia at the ISEF, which is the largest pre-college science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competition in the world. His project, entitled “The Effect of Degradation on a Full Synthetic versus Conventional Motor Lubricant's Tribological Performance,” tests which type of motor oil can perform for longer in a car engine before breaking down and causing drops in performance.
Synthetic oil is marketed as lasting longer than conventional, but as Mason observed over his past four years working part-time as a mechanic, many prefer conventional, as it’s been around for longer. Determined to cut through the speculation, Mason simulated the contamination of oils as though in a car engine and invented a machine to test their ability to resist wear.
His findings? Synthetic oil could last around 2,000-3,000 miles longer than conventional before degradation started to take over.
“I’m surprised I was selected for the international competition,” Mason said. “My topic is obscure…it’s not exactly your average research project. But even if I didn’t get selected, I would’ve enjoyed every single aspect of it.”
Mason’s love for all things automotive started when he took apart a friend’s old lawnmower in middle school. With YouTube as his guide, he fixed it and soon got a job repairing lawnmowers at a local outlet. Mowers led to cars, and Mason’s skills developed rapidly when he started working as a mechanic. He plans to pursue a career in automotive engineering or aeronautics.
“I love fixing things, and I’m really fascinated by engineering,” Mason said. “Being able to get my hands dirty and breathe new life into something is a powerful feeling.”
Mason credits the Central Virginia Governor’s School for Science and Technology (CVGS), where he takes his STEM classes, for fostering his love for science. “It’s unlike any other educational experience I’ve had before. I’ve never been in an environment that’s so collaborative,” he said. “You’d think there would be a lot of competition, but teachers and students alike are always ready to help you with anything.”
See the full list of CVRSF winners from LCS:
Grand Award Winners
Grand Award ISEF Finalist: Physical Sciences
Micajah Mason, Heritage HS/CVGS
“The Effect of Degradation on a Full Synthetic versus Conventional Motor Lubricant's Tribological Performance”
Grand Alternate Award: Biological Sciences
Lilly Wood, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
“A Multigenerational Study Regarding the Effects of Titanium Dioxide on the Reproductive Rates of drosophila melanogaster"
VSSF Finalists
These students will advance to the state competition.
Marcus Gafford, Heritage HS/CVGS
Aran Jothi, Heritage HS/CVGS
Josephine Kicklighter, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Sean Kim, Heritage HS/CVGS
Micajah Mason, Heritage HS/CVGS
Amelia Uhl, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Lilly Wood, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Category Winners
Animal Sciences
2nd place Victoria Callahan, Heritage HS/CVGS
Chemistry
1st place Amelia Uhl, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Earth & Planetary Science
1st place Aran Jothi, Heritage HS/CVGS
Engineering
1st place Micajah Mason, Heritage HS/CVGS
2nd place Layton Morris, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Environmental Science
2nd place Riley Morford, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
3rd place Drew Barnett, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Medicine and Health
1st place Lilly Wood, E.C. Glass HS/CVGS
2nd place Sean Kim, Heritage HS/CVGS
2nd place Avery Gagen, E.C. Glass HS/CVGS
Microbiology
2nd place Josephine Kicklighter, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Physics and Astronomy
2nd place Ronan McKinney, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
3rd place Sarah Ramsey, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Honorable Mention: Colby Schietinger, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Plant Sciences
1st place Marcus Gafford, Heritage HS/RVGS
Special Awards
Naval Research Awards
Ava Kennedy, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Devon Davis, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
US Air Force Awards
Layton Morris, E. C. Glass HS
Victoria Callahan, Heritage HS/CVGS
Emily Wesley, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
NASA Earth Systems Award
Devon Davis, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
National Geographic Award
Riley Morford, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
National Association of Biology Teacher Awards
Marcus Gafford, Heritage HS/CVGS
U. S. Stockholm Water Prize Nominations
Drew Barnett, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Sam Yarbrough, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Ricoh Americas Corporation Environmental Award
Riley Morford, E. C. Glass HS/CVGS
Virginia Lakes & Water Sheds Association
Drew Barnett, E.C. Glass HS/CVGS