PROVIDENCE - Three of ten La Salle Academy students whose projects were entered into the Rhode Island Science and Engineering Fair this year were named among the top ten "Best in Fair" finalists.
Senior Justine Fortier of Coventry has made Rhode Island history. Her Emergency Vehicle Alert System engineering project captured the "Best in Fair" honor for the fourth consecutive year. She also won an Amgen $500 award for the La Salle Academy Science Department, the Governor's Cup Award for the project that has the most potential to improve Rhode Island, a $1,000 per year University of Rhode Island scholarship, the American Society of Professional Engineers Award, the Herbert Hoover Engineering Award, and the Base 8 Group Innovation in Technology prize.
Fortier's Emergency Vehicle Alert System was designed around the observation that the hearing-impaired were having a difficult time responding to emergency vehicles on roadways. Through her research, Fortier was able to isolate the unique frequencies of the sirens and alarms, and has filtered that isolated sound into a designed mechanism that can warm a driver of the presence of an emergency vehicle on the roadway. Her design is Patent Pending.
She will represent Rhode Island in the International Science & Engineering Fair with her project May 13-19 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, along with students from 43 nations.
Two La Salle Academy sisters who worked on a joint project, senior Theresa and sophomore Emilia Raimondo of Greenville were "Best in Fair" finalists. For their presentation, "How Important is Water Temperature vs. Nitrogen in Controlling Eutrophication in the Bay?" they won the Naval Underwater Innovation Award, as well as awards from Mystic Aquarium, the Southeast Marine Educators, and the Narragansett Bay Commission.
Michael Danielewicz, Grade 9, of Johnston, was a third La Salle Academy finalist. His project, "Out of Mind, Out of Sight Inatttentional Blindness," won awards from the American Psychological Association, the National Institute of Mentally Ill, and the RISTA Geraldine Ferry award.
Freshman Adam Meunier of Johnston received a First Grant for "Is the Blackstone River Contributing to Red Tide?" and was the winner of the Coastal Resource Management award.
Menas Woloohojian, Grade 9, of East Greenwich, won a First Grant and the Earth Day Award for his presentation, "How Does a Change in Water Temperature Affect Dissolved Oxygen?"
Freshman Aubrey Curran of Smithfield, won a First Grant for "The New Generation: Grafting Flower Bulbs."
Christopher Piette, Grade 9, of Greenville, was a Second Grant winner and received an Earth Day Award.
Freshman Helen Smith of Cranston also received a Second Grant, as well as the R.I. Wild Plant Society Award for "What Is the Effect of Restoration on a Salt Marsh?"
Senior Thomas Cardente of Providence won a Second Grant for his project, "The Antimicrobial Properties of Copper."
Brittany Smeal, Grade 9, of West Warwick, also won a Second Grant for her project, '"Red Tide in the Morning, Fishermen Take Warning."
Robert Jackson of Smithfield, a PEGASUS 7/8 student, was a top 10 "Best in Fair" finalist in the Junior division for his project, "An Emission Mission II." PEGASUS teacher Jeff Danielian served as his mentor.
Justine Fortier is a member of St. John the Baptist Parish in West Warwick. Theresa and Emilia Raimondo, Thomas Cardente, Adam Meunier, Aubrey Curran, and Christopher Piette all are parishioners of St. Philip church in Greenville. Helen Smith belongs to St. Paul Parish in Cranston. Brittany Smeal is a member of Christ the King, Michael Danielewicz of St. Thomas, Menas Woloohojian of St. Peter, and Robert Jackson of St. Pius V.
(This article originally appeared in The Providence Visitor)
