Daniel Kang standing next to his award-winning project at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last week.

Families, friends, and teachers gathered at the Hilton Guam Resort and Spa this weekend to celebrate the winners of the 40th Annual Island Wide Science Fair. Out of the 612 participants from Guam and the CNMI, four students were selected as top winners in their respective divisions (see below). As this year’s overall winner, Daniel Kang, a sophomore from John F. Kennedy High School, recently represented Guam in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“I can honestly say I can do anything with God. I was able to win $10,000 for first in category and best in category at the ISEF,” shared Kang.

Part of his prize includes a trip to Ireland for the European Union Contest for Young Scientists Award and as an added bonus, an asteroid named in his honor.

This is Kang’s second overall division win in the Island-Wide Science Fair and his second consecutive win in an international science fair. Kang was one of the 521 single/group project submissions --the largest number of project entries in Guam’s science fair record. Kang used graphene to create affordable paintable conductors that can be used in electronics. He holds a provisional patent for his invention

“Daniel’s island-wide and international wins are amazing accomplishments and an inspiration to all of Guam’s students demonstrating how far you can go with a local education and hard work,” said Dr. Austin Shelton, UOG Assistant Professor and a past overall winner of the Island Wide Science Fair.

This year’s fair was made possible thanks to the assistance of major sponsors, including Delta Airlines, Marianas Energy Corporation, IP&E Shell Guam and the University of Guam Sea Grant, Guam Established Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and the UOG INCLUDES programs.

 

DIVISION WINNERS:
High School (Division 4): Daniel Kang, John F. Kennedy High School
Title: Novel Graphene Nanoplatelet Embedded Pigmentless Acrylic Emulsions

Middle School (Division 3): Talia Kriegel, St. John’s School
Title: Analyzing The Effects Of Antigonan Leptopus On The Metabolic Rates

Grades 3-5 (Division 2): Kazu Friebert, Home School
Title: From Wind to Voltage
*Friebert is the first homeschool student to be recognized at the division level.

Grades K-2 (Division 1): Richard Tang, Cmd. McCool Elementary/Middle School
Title: Battle of the Mops

 

Talia Kriegal of St. John’s School (centered) receives the award for first place in Division 3. (From left to right) UOG Reference and Instruction Librarian, Roland San Nicolas, UOG Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Frank Camacho, Talia Kriegal, UOG Assistant Professor of Extension & Outreach Dr. Austin Shelton, and UOG President Dr. Robert Underwood.

Winners of the University of Guam Summer Internships (from left to right) UOG Reference and Instruction Librarian, Roland San Nicolas, UOG Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Frank Camacho; Heera Kodiyamplakkal, Grade 10, St. John’s School; Donovan Nelson, Grade 10, Father Duenas Memorial School; Jerome Ariola, Grade 10, John F. Kennedy H.S.; and UOG Assistant Professor of Extension & Outreach Dr. Austin Shelton.