2014 Essay Contest Results

The results of the 27th annual “Great Women in Engineering and Science” essay contest are in! The competition was fierce again this year with an outstanding 181 entries from 17 schools in Colorado and Wyoming. A panel of 17 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 banquet to be held on May 17, 2014. The following students will receive a personal invitation to the event: 

Mia Anaruk of Littleton for her essay on Yvonne Brill. Mia attends 6th grade at Columbine Hills Elementary and was sponsored by teacher Karen Thornton. 

Katie Kesselman of Littleton for her essay on Sophie Germain. Katie attends 6th grade at Goddard Middle School and was sponsored by teacher Chris Pautler. 

Amanda Mohrlang of Littleton for her essay on Beatrice Hicks. Amanda attends 6th grade at Columbine Hills Elementary and was sponsored by teacher Karen Thornton.

School Awards: This year nine schools will receive the school library award for outstanding participation in the essay contest. To qualify for this award, a teacher must submit essays from at least 20% of the 6th graders in his/her class. 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 the opportunities of various science-related careers. The schools receiving awards this year are: 

 Chugwater Junior High School, Chugwater, WY 
 Columbine Hills Elementary, Littleton, CO 
 Deer Trail School, Deer Trail, CO 
 Denver Academy of Torah, Denver, CO 
 Kemmerer Middle School, Kemmerer, WY 
 Ortega Middle School, Alamosa, CO 
 Prairie School, New Raymer, CO 
 Quest Academy, Dacono, CO 
 STEM Launch, Thornton, CO 

Honorable Merit Awards: Five students will receive Honorable Merit Awards this year. This year’s merit prize is an Electronic Playground and Learning Center kit. The Honorable Merit award recipients are: 

 Jeniffer Backes-Kincher Barone Middle School 
 Rohit Garimella Challenge School 
 Eitan Kochavi Denver Academy of Torah 
 Kathryn Schoemaker Prairie School 
 Dina Zito Quest Academy 

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

 Emelia Abbey Ortega Middle School 
 Charity Chamberlain Kemmerer Middle School 
 Robert Clarke Kemmerer Middle School 
 Kelby Hays Chugwater Junior High 
 Grady Killian Kemmerer Middle School 
 Andrew Littlefield Prairie School 
 Cheryl McClurg Columbine Hills Elementary 
 Avi Polotsky Denver Academy of Torah 
 Nicole Sagner Chugwater Junior High 
 Patrick Thompson Prairie School 

All participants will receive a certificate of participation and a SWE pencil. 

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