The results of the 33nd annual Great Women in Engineering and Science Essay Contest are in! The competition was fierce again this year with an outstanding 170 entries from 14 schools in Colorado and Wyoming. A panel of 14 volunteer judges enjoyed reviewing all of the essays. Congratulations to every entrant!
 
The top three awards are a $75, $50, and $25 prize in addition to the science kit and science book awarded to the honorable merit and honorable mention recipients. The top three award winners are listed below in no particular order. Their prizes will be announced at the Society of Women Engineers Rocky Mountain Section award ceremony, which will be held remotely this year. The following students will receive a personal invitation to the event:
 
Abigail Bybee of Highlands Ranch, CO for her essay on Rachel Carson. Abigail attends 6th grade at Arrowwood Elementary School and was sponsored by teacher Fay Von Tilius.
 
Matilda Garcia Stevenson of Longmont, CO for her essay on Rachel Carson. Matilda attends 6th grade at Westview Middle School and was sponsored by teacher Veronica Barbosa.
 
Connor Thiessen of Parker, CO for his essay on Rita Levi-Montalcini. Connor attends 6th grade at Parker Core Knowledge Charter School and was sponsored by teacher Heather Puckett.  ​

School Awards: This year seven schools will receive the school library award for outstanding participation in the essay contest. To qualify for this award a school must submit essays from at least 20% of the 6th graders in the participating classes. The books provide information on women engineers and scientists. These excellent references will support teachers and classrooms in future research, not only for this contest, but also for other scientific, historical, or biographical projects.
 
The aim of the school library award is two-fold: to supply 6th graders throughout Colorado and Wyoming with research materials and to encourage teachers to include the essay contest in their curricula in order to expose all of their students to the significance and opportunities of science-related careers. The schools receiving awards this year are:
 

• Arrowwood Elementary School, Highlands Ranch, CO
• Chugwater School, Chugwater, WY
• Parker Core Knowledge Charter School, Parker, CO
• Peakview School, Walsenburg, CO
• Prairie School, New Raymer, CO
• Pueblo School for Arts and Sciences at Fulton Heights, Pueblo, CO
• Sargent Elementary School, Monte Vista, CO

 
Honorable Merit Awards: Five students will receive Honorable Merit Awards this year. This year’s prize is a Snap Circuits Jr. electronics kit. The Honorable Merit award recipients are:

• Ruchitha Badiginchala                                
  Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
• McKenzie Cabay                                          
  Arrowwood Elementary School
• Corbin Castillo                                             
  Sargent Elementary School
• Zoe Keith                                                      
  Summit Middle School
• Haley McReynolds                                      
  Parker Core Knowledge Charter School

 
Honorable Mention Awards: Ten students will receive Honorable Mention Awards this year. This year’s prize is the book 101 Great Science Experiments by Neil Ardley. The Honorable Mention award winners are:
 

• Zane Aloia                                                    
  Summit Middle School
• Bode Becker                                                
  Westview Middle School
• Jocelyn Buswell                                           
  Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
• Eunice Choe                                                 
  Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
• Sophie Dickey                                              
  Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
• Emily Hoer                                                   
  Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
• Hannah Huang                                             
  Arrowwood Elementary School
• Callie Marks                                                 
  Summit Middle School
• Lincoln Nelson                                             
  Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
• Emma Thomas                                             
  Parker Core Knowledge Charter School

  
Thank you to the panel of judges who spent their valuable time reviewing the essays. Without their commitment this contest would not be possible.