Despite being one of the newer and smaller programs in the county with only 24 students, the Seminole Ridge High School Future Business Leaders of America chapter had 11 students qualify to compete at the state championship at the end of March. The 11 students competed at the local district competition and placed high enough to move forward.
The results from the district categories and winners for Seminole Ridge are as follows: Accounting I, D.J. Austin (sixth); Computer Problem Solving, Kael Fertil (third); Economics, Evan Upson (fourth); Entrepreneurship, Joshua Gregoire (second); Public Speaking, Melissa Tellez (third); Health Care Administration, Trinity Harmon (fifth); Introduction to Business Procedures, Maia Anderson (first); Introduction to Information Technology, Ikalia Maldonado (sixth); Organizational Leadership, Kayla Mckenzie (fourth); and Publication Design, Shivana Ramnarine and Petriena Patterson (second).
The FBLA State Competition takes place in Orlando from March 22 through March 25.
Hawk Cheerleaders State Champions — The Seminole Ridge cheerleading team won first place at the FHSAA state cheerleading championships at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville. This is the first ever state championship in cheerleading in the history of the school.
Seminole Ridge Dance Program Feb. 20 — The Seminole Ridge dance program is having a “World of Dance” theme show, and the preliminary round will take place Thursday, Feb. 20 after school from 3 to 5 p.m. There is no charge to get in, and it is open to all students, faculty and staff.
Seminole Ridge Dance Marathon Supports Pediatric Patients — Dance Marathon will be held Friday, Feb. 22 from 3 to 10 p.m., where students will stand up to cancer, raising money for pediatric patients at UF Health Shands Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network. If you wish to make a donation, or sponsor the event, e-mail shawna.ahmad@palmbeachschools.org or visit www.seminoleridge.org/dm. All students participating must register by Feb. 23.
Seminole Ridge Students Win at Regional Science Fair — Twenty students from the Seminole Ridge Biotechnology Academy competed at the Palm Beach County Regional Science & Engineering Fair in December at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The award ceremony was held Jan. 17 at Santaluces High School. Students participated in a grueling judging process and presented their class research projects and came out winners. The following awards were won by the students:
Nicole Marvez won fourth place in the category of Earth and Environmental and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize with her project, “The Effect of Fertilizer on Bioluminescence in Vibrio fischeri.”
Grace Waldron won second place in the category of Biomedical and Health Science with her project, “The Effect of Garlic on Atherosclerosis.” She will advance to the state competition in Lakeland.
Bethany Seltzer won second place in the category of Plant Sciences and the American Society of Sugarcane Technologies award for her project, “Hypersensitivity Response in Different Lettuce Cultivars to Xanthomonas campestris.” She will advance to the state competition.
William Habegger won fourth place in the category of Plant Sciences with his project, “Pesticide Detection in Fragaria ananess and Spinacia oleraces.”
Karie Abel won third place in the category of Biomedical and Health Science with her project, “The Effect of Temperature on the Production of Formaldehyde by Juul Juice.”
Aneeshea Cason won fourth place in the category of Animal Sciences with her project, “The Effect of Essential Oil on Plaque Formation in Canis familiaris.”
William Bartenslager won fourth place in the category of Biomedical and Health Science with his project, “The Effect of Sub-Concussive Blows on Drosophila Neuropathy.”
Lyndsey Plancarte won third place in the category of Cellular/Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with her project, “The Use of Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis to Determine Protein Changes During the Cooking Process.”
John-Mark Andrew Phillips won first place in the category of Chemistry with his project, “Synthesis of C60 Buckminsterfullerene Derivatives for DEL, SPS and HTS.” He also won the Office of Naval Research Award and the Patrick Geer Award of Recognition. He will advance to the state competition in Lakeland.
Brionna Longest won third place in the category of Earth & Environmental Sciences with her project, “Can Pleurotus ostreatus Successfully Break Down Cigarette Filters?” She also won the Dr. Michael J. Davis Innovative Scientist Award.
Mika Estok won fourth place in the category of Biomedical and Health Sciences with her project, “The Use of Protein Electrophoresis for Determining Actin and Myosin Presence in Veggie Burgers.”
