2015 MESAS MAIL-IN CONTEST
TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTRIES: 538
Winners Announced May 2015
By Dr. Don M. Jordan, MESAS State Director
The State-wide MESAS mail-in contest was held this winter & spring. There were 538 entries, with 401 students from grades 4-6 (E
Contest) and 137 students from grades 6-8 (M Contest). This year, the contests enclosed a broad range of topics with an emphasis on
Plants, Animals, Microbiology, Geography, Environmental Science, Computer Science, and Measurement following the Common Core
Guidelines of South Carolina. We would like to extend our most sincere appreciation to the creators of the 2015 MESAS Mail-in Contest.
They are: Dr. Don Jordan, Frank Jordan, Amber Atkinson, all of the Center for Science Education at USC with additional support from
the council of South Carolina Academy of Science.
Awards were given in four categories; Grand, State, Regional and School Winners. A unique feature of the contest is that every school
that participates is guaranteed at least one winner. The Grand Prizes went to 32 students ( 13 M and19 E) from six regions who submitted
the top overall papers.
Region I: Brady Haas, Alexandra Krinke, and Sydney Lee of Powdersville Elementary (Sponsor Christy Papala), Lauren Minter of
Springfield Elementary School(Sponsor Anne Glawe), Jacob Smith of Hodges Elementary School (Sponsor Cindy Hamlett), Ritika
Surabhi, Jan Nawratil, and Carolina Villanueva-Suarez of Christ Church Episcopal School (Sponsor Cynthia Campell), Sarah Huska of
The Huska Academy (Sponsor Daniela Huska), and Chloe Ellenburg and Cole Rogers of the Youth Leadership Academy (Sponsor
Deboarah Garrick); Region II: Drayton Privette and Carlynn Rychener of Lake Murray Elementary School (Sponsor Kelly Reese) and
Bailey Plemons of Hillcrest Middle School (Sponsor Carrie Hall) ; Region III : Louis Prete and Matthew Prete of A.R. Rucker Middle
(Sponsor Jennifer Prete), Andrew Abramson and Saylor Bacon of St. Joseph Catholic (Sponsor Suzanne Richardson), and Abby Seay of
Lugoff Elementary School (Sponsor Melissa Lloyd) ; Region IV : Ayan Guha of Montessori School of Florence (Sponsor Simi Sacher),
Thomas Wukela of Savannah Grove Elementary School (Sponsor Samantha Broughton), Elena Morgan of All Saint’s Episcopal Day
School (Sponsor Angie Lynch), Stephen Wukela of Savannah Grove Elementary School (Sponsor Samantha Broughton), and Mary Watts
of Williams Middle School (Sponsor Sheila Barnes) ; Region V : Drew Hodges of Lakeview Elementary School (Sponsor Cleva Garner),
Isobel Meroe-Epes of Porter-Gaud School (Sponsor Peyton Sasnett), Kennedy Lyon of Orange Grove Elementary Charter School
(Sponsor Kennedy Lyon), Katie Radovanovic and Gelsey Jaymes from Porter-Gaud School (Sponsor Peyton Sasnett), and Joceana Bailey
and Destanee Timmons of St. Stephen Middle School (Sponsor Kerrilynn Savage) ; Region VI : Marin Moody of Richard Carroll
Elementary (Sponsor Lee Ashe)
The contest scores were very good overall and a good percentage of the entrants qualified for an award. We had 293 winners out of 538
participants (approx 54.5% of the total number of participants were winners). Certificates and prizes were mailed out to each student’s
principal so that the awards could be presented at each school’s Awards Assembly. We congratulate each and every contestant for his or her
excellent effort! We encourage every student in all South Carolina schools to participate next year. Below is a list of the winners and their
school. Please note the cash prizes were limited to the Grand & State Winners for 2015.
Grand Winners
Grade
5
Winner
Brady Haas
6
Elena Morgan
All Saint's Episcopal Day School
4
Reg
4
Drew Hodges
Lakeview Elementary School
5
Powdersville Elementary
1
6
Isobel Meroe-Epes
Porter-Gaud School
5
School
5
Lauren Minter
Springfield
1
5
Kennedy Lyon
Orange Grove Elementary Charter School
5
5
Alexandra Krinke
Powdersville Elementary
1
4
Marin Moody
Richard Carroll Elementary
6
5
5
Sydney Lee
1
1
8
Ritika Surabhi
Christ Church Episcopal School
1
Jacob Smith
Powdersville Elementary
Hodges Elementary School
8
Jan Nawratil
Christ Church Episcopal School
1
4
Drayton Privette
Lake Murray Elementary School
2
8
Carolina Villaneuva Suarez
Christ Church Episcopal School
1
4
Carlynn Rychener
Lake Murray Elementary School
2
7
Sarah Huska
The Huska Academy (homeschool)
1
6
Andrew Abramson
St. Joseph Catholic
2
8
Chloe Ellenburg
Youth Leadership Academy
1
5
Abby Seay
Lugoff Elementary School
2
8
Cole Rogers
Youth Leadership Academy
1
6
Saylor Bacon
St. Joseph Catholic
2
6
Bailey Plemons
2
6
Louis Prete
A.R. Rucker Middle
3
4
Matthew Prete
Discovery School
3
6
Stephen Wukela
Hillcrest Middle School
Savannah Grove Elementary
School
4
Ayan Guha
Montessori School of Florence
4
7
Mary Watts
Williams Middle School
4
4
Thomas Wukela
Savannah Grove Elementary
4
7
Katie Radovanovic
Porter-Gaud School
5
4
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Gelsey Jaymes
Porter-Gaud School
5
4
Maddy McMillion
Lake Murray Elementary School
2
7
Joceana Bailey
St. Stephen Middle School
5
5
Steve Robinson
Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus
2
7
Destanee Timmons
St. Stephen Middle School
5
6
Eliza Carrouth
2
Grade
Winner
School
Reg
5
5
Emilee Westmoreland
Kenneth Sweezy
Keowee Elementary School
Hodges Elementary School
1
1
4
Amelia Scott
Merrywood Elementary
1
5
Jack Davenport
Merrywood Elementary
1
5
Antonio Hacket
Merrywood Elementary
1
5
Jonathan Martin
Merrywood Elementary
1
4
Raja Villareal
Pincrest Elementary
1
4
Max Letchworth
Lugoff Elementary School
2
6
Peyton Windham
St. Joseph Catholic
2
4
Shelley Stevenson
West View Elementary School
3
6
Amanda Grubb
Montessori School of Florence
4
4
Gage Boykin
Richard Carroll Elementary
6
4
Price Wilson
Richard Carroll Elementary
6
8
Caroline DeBloom
Christ Church Episcopal School
1
7
Jaydan Burgess
Gettys Middle School
1
8
David Floyd
Homeschool
1
6
Aryan Naveen
Langston Charter Middle School
1
7
Alexis Williams
RC Edwards Middle School
1
6
Hayden Herlong
Chapin Middle School
2
7
Abhijith Nair
Dent Middle School
2
7
l Fiumara
Hillcrest Middle
2
7
Nav Singh
Williams Middle
4
7
Christian Weichsel
Porter-Gaud School
5
8
Thomas Finnegan
Porter-Gaud School
5
7
Laken Fulmer
Saluda Middle School
7
Cade Gentry
Saluda Middle School
8
State Winners
6
Christa LaSalle
St. Joseph Catholic
Frances Mack Intermediate
School
5
Alyssa Graham
Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus
2
4
Mia Taradash
Lake Murray Elementary School
2
4
4
Carola Ruiz-Colores
Lake Murray Elementary School
Rocky Creek
2
2
6
4
Jonathan Jordan
2
2
Gavin Shantz
2
Caleb Stevenson
St. Joseph Catholic
Rocky Creek Elementary
4
Thomas Clark
New Providence Elementary
2
5
Marshall Seezen
St. Joseph Catholic
2
5
Sarah Dayhuff
St. Joseph Catholic
2
5
Zoe Cobb
Lake Murray Elementary School
2
4
Alex Matthews
Lugoff Elementary School
2
5
McKenzye Garvin
L.W. Conder Elementary School
2
5
Denaisia Pinckney
Doby's Mill Elementary
2
5
Jordin Thomas
L.W. Conder Elementary School
2
5
Lillian Altschul
North Springs Elementary
2
5
Christopher Li
North Springs Elementary
2
5
Scott Dillon
North Springs Elementary
2
5
5
Joshua Yow
Jacob Dennis
Bethel-Hanberry Elementary
Pelion Elementary
2
2
5
Nathan Elizer
Bethel-Hanberry Elementary
2
6
Ashley Spencer
Heyward Gibbes Middle
2
4
Jonathan Zimdahl
West View Elementary School
3
4
Hugh McNulty
West View Elementary School
3
4
Jade Leveque
West View Elementary School
3
5
5
Ibrahim Alimohamed
West View Elementary School
6
Jill Brown
Berry Shoals Intermediate School
3
3
6
5
Lydia Gardner
Berry Shoals Intermediate School
3
Regional Winners
4
Ashlyn Shaw
Lewisville Elementary
3
Grade
Winner
School
Reg
5
Benjamin Polchow
West View Elementary School
3
5
Korry Collinson
Keowee Elementary School
1
5
Antonio Willis
Gold Hill Elementary
3
4
Carter Duffie
Merrywood Elementary
1
6
Eva Hinkleman
Homeschool
3
5
Peter Russell
Merrywood Elementary
1
5
Will Walker
North Vista Elementary School
4
5
Destiny Hughes
Powdersville Elementary
1
5
Harrison Walker
North Vista Elementary School
4
5
Collin Morris
Keowee Elementary School
1
5
Sammi Cedilote
Savannah Grove Elementary School
4
5
Rori Pumphrey
Keowee Elementary School
1
6
Lauren Stokes
All Saint's Episcopal Day School
4
5
Bailey Wilkre
Pincrest Elementary
1
5
Emma Kerce
Cathedral Academy
5
5
Jensen McInnis
Keowee Elementary School
1
6
Luke Flynn
Porter-Gaud School
5
5
Madelyn Simpson
Keowee Elementary School
1
6
Traavone Dawson
St. Stephen Middle School
5
5
5
Gracie Gardner
Keowee Elementary School
Hodges Elementary School
1
1
4
Natalie Carriker
St. James Elementary
5
6
Abigail Jefferson
Merriweather Middle
6
5
5
Kiera McGrath
1
1
5
Austin Brown
North Augusta Elementary School
6
William Ellenberg
Merrywood Elementary
Hodges Elementary School
6
Anna Hale
Mead Hall Episcopal
6
5
Aidan Driscoll
Pincrest Elementary
1
6
Fatimah Rivers
Brunson Elementary
6
4
Ethan Von Ahn
Cyber Academy of South Carolina
1
8
Hannah Edmonds
Belton Middle School
1
5
5
Marcelo Alvarez
1
1
8
Hidde Sjollena
Christ Church Episcopal School
1
Araceli Manuel
Crosswell Elementary
Eleanor S. Rice Elementary
6
Georgia Dodson
Youth Leadership Academy
1
6
Braceland Degenhart
St. Joseph Catholic
2
7
John Castellano
Cardinal Newman
2
Dylan Booth
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7
Ashley Noller
Chapin Middle
2
5
William Oakes
Bethel-Hanberry Elementary
2
6
Marcus McConaghy
Columbia Adventist Academy
2
5
Drake Lesher
Bethel-Hanberry Elementary
2
6
McKayla Ellis
Hand Middle School
2
5
Catherine Revels
Brockman Elementary
2
7
Kaitlyn Doyle
Hillcrest Middle
2
4
Whitney Holder
C.C. Pinckney Elementary
2
7
Anastasia Clyborn-Wilson
Hillcrest Middle
2
6
Petey Von Ahn
Chapin Middle School
2
6
Michael Goff III
Hillcrest Middle School
2
5
Tykeem Reed
Columbia Adventist Academy
2
7
Cameron Edwards
Hunter Kinard Tyler
2
4
Quincey Snipes
Doby's Mill Elementary
2
8
Aryeona Freeman
SC School For The Blind
3
4
Garmen Howard
Doby's Mill Elementary
2
8
8
Dashiell Stevanovich
4
4
4
Dutch Fork Elementary School
2
Johnathan Dozier
Forestbrook Middle School
Southside Middle
Gregory Solomon Jacobs
5
Hannah Lybrand
Harbison West Elementary
2
8
Simrah Singh
Williams Middle
4
6
Alaysia Richardson
Heyward Gibbes Middle
2
7
Pilar Stolarczyk
Porter-Gaud School
5
5
Jariyah Childers
L.W. Conder Elementary School
2
8
Davis Koch
Porter-Gaud School
5
5
Joseph Reyes-Garcia
L.W. Conder Elementary School
2
8
Everett Hughes
Porter-Gaud School
5
5
Rudy Miranda
L.W. Conder Elementary School
2
7
Matthew Herlong
Saluda Middle School
6
5
Angel Lopez
L.W. Conder Elementary School
2
7
Caelan McGrath
Saluda Middle School
6
5
Sharri Davis
L.W. Conder Elementary School
2
7
Alison Enlow
Saluda Middle School
6
4
Corbin McCollum
Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus
2
7
Krishon Mathis
Saluda Middle School
6
4
Dana Witherspoon
Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus
2
7
Kade Ellison
Saluda Middle School
6
4
Blake Blalock
Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus
2
7
Noah Bell
Saluda Middle School
6
4
Meghan Pasala
Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus
2
School Winners
4
Hayden Urso
Lake Murray Elementary School
2
Grade
Winner
School
Reg
5
Lauren Herring
Lake Murray Elementary School
2
5
Tanvi Giridhar
Bushy Creek Elementary
1
5
Nicole Curtis
Little Mountain Elementary
2
5
Tyler Williamson
Eleanor S. Rice Elementary
1
4
Mason Cherry
Lugoff Elementary School
2
5
Peyton Sorrow
Hodges Elementary School
1
4
Knowlton Atkinson
Lugoff Elementary School
2
5
Garron Dombroski
Homeschool
1
5
Hayden Murray
Midway Elementary School
2
5
Ryan Stephens
1
5
Hannah Grace Waters
New Providence Elementary
2
Keowee Elementary School
5
Kallie Hunter
Keowee Elementary School
1
5
Kylie Craps
New Providence Elementary
2
5
Skyla Stenzinger
Keowee Elementary School
1
5
Zachary Vereen
North Springs Elementary
2
5
Benjamin Clay
1
4
Kaitlyn Lebecq
Rocky Creek Elementary
2
Keowee Elementary School
5
Morgan Thornton
Keowee Elementary School
1
5
Max Thoder
St. Joseph Catholic
2
5
Zander Richardson
Merrywood Elementary
1
5
Will Kirk
St. Joseph Catholic
2
5
Jenna Calvert
1
5
Hannah Jordan
St. Joseph Catholic
2
Merrywood Elementary
4
Gracie Sanders
Pincrest Elementary
1
6
Cameron Steele
St. Joseph Catholic
2
5
Brad Scott
Pincrest Elementary
1
Joseph Buchmaier
St. Joseph Catholic
5
Tyler Slagle
Pincrest Elementary
1
6
5
Haya Kidwai
Berry Shoals Intermediate School
2
3
5
William Spoone
Pincrest Elementary
1
4
Sha'Laiyah Robinson
Lewisville Elementary
3
5
Maraina Frazier
Powdersville Elementary
1
4
Dylan Hudson
Lewisville Elementary
3
5
Abbie Conlin
1
4
Alexis Chase
Lewisville Elementary
3
5
Kendall Boyd
1
4
Addison Dingman
West View Elementary School
3
Powdersville Elementary
Powdersville Elementary
5
Kobe Powell
Powdersville Elementary
1
4
Brynn Laney
West View Elementary School
3
5
Luke Hiller
Powdersville Elementary
1
5
Abigail Turner
West View Elementary School
3
5
Ashley Tatem
1
5
Jesse Williams
West View Elementary School
3
Powdersville Elementary
5
Emily Gibson
Powdersville Elementary
1
5
Alex Rishmawi
West View Elementary School
3
5
Thomas Drayton
Powdersville Elementary
1
Eleanor Farrell
All Saint's Episcopal Day School
5
Hunter Maez
Springfield
1
6
6
Taylor McCall
All Saint's Episcopal Day School
4
4
5
Ryan Anderson
Springfield Elementary
1
6
Caroline Tatum
All Saint's Episcopal Day School
4
5
James Jarrett III
Batesburg - Leesville Elementary
2
6
Alexis Lee
All Saint's Episcopal Day School
4
5
Samantha Gray
2
4
Kayla Jones
McCormick Elementary
4
Bethel Hanberry Elementary
5
Gavin Shelley
Bethel Hanberry Elementary
2
5
Daniel Grubb
Montessori School of Florence
4
5
Katherine Brown
Bethel Hanberry Elementary
2
6
Stephen Black
North Vista Elementary School
4
5
Naziah Foster
2
4
Cainen Palmer
Savannah Grove Elementary School
4
Bethel-Hanberry Elementary
Page 3 of 4
6
Anna Sophocleous
Hand Middle School
2
4
7
Shaleria Bradley
Hillcrest Middle
2
4
7
Devin Koehler
Hillcrest Middle
2
5
7
Fatima Gutierrez
Hillcrest Middle
2
5
6
Summer Lowder
Hillcrest Middle School
2
5
6
Athena Hall
Hillcrest Middle School
2
Coastal Montessori Charter
5
7
Victoria Kinsey
Hunter Kinard Tyler
2
Coastal Montessori Charter
5
7
Marvasha Jones
Hunter Kinard Tyler
2
5
7
Abbigail Locklair
Hunter Kinard Tyler
2
5
Kimberly Bazard
5
7
5
Aniston Hong
Sandy Run K-8 School
Berry Shoals Intermediate School
2
3
Lakeview Elementary School
5
7
Harley Blackwell
D.R. Hill Middle School
3
Taylin Hall
Lakeview Elementary School
5
Noah Jones
5
Curtis Lavmon
Lakeview Elementary School
5
7
8
Sarah Spencer
Rainbow Lake Middle
Southside Middle
3
4
6
Gabriel McWethy
McWethy Homeschool
5
8
Chase Leach
Southside Middle
4
6
Kian Shah
Porter-Gaud School
5
7
Patrick Wang
Williams Middle School
4
6
Jack Steyer
Porter-Gaud School
5
6
Savannah Pender
Coastal Montessori Charter
5
5
Selena Rosario
Sangaree Intermediate
5
7
Sarah Ward
Colleton County Middle School
5
4
Rickey Barnes
St. James Elementary
5
7
Lindsey Pruss
Porter-Gaud School
5
4
Thea Patney
Stiles Point Elementary
5
7
Jack Levenson
Porter-Gaud School
5
5
Chyna Hayes
Lloyd-Kennedy Charter School
6
7
Grayson Ellis
Porter-Gaud School
5
5
Jaivin Heera
North Augusta Elementary School
6
7
Gracie Brown
Porter-Gaud School
5
4
Chandler Brown
Richard Carroll Elementary
6
8
Max Sasnett
Porter-Gaud School
5
8
6
William Pruitt
Christ Church Episcopal School
8
Aidan Worthington
Porter-Gaud School
5
Taron Giridhar
Dr. Phinneze Fisher Middle School
1
1
6
Ashley Morris
Sangaree Middle School
5
7
Maryana Dombroski
Homeschool
1
8
Emily Walls
Leavelle McCampbell Middle School
6
7
Runli Liu
R. C. Edwards Middle
1
6
Abigail Jefferson
Merriweather Middle
6
6
Kathy Cervantes
Youth Leadership Academy
1
7
Gavin Wheeler
Saluda Middle School
6
7
Dalton Moorrees
Youth Leadership Academy
1
7
Zoe Horne
Saluda Middle School
6
8
8
Shakira Muhammad
2
2
7
William Bedenbaugh
Saluda Middle School
6
Blake Gibbons
Busbee Creative Arts Academy
Chapin Middle School
7
Brenda Armenta
Saluda Middle School
6
7
Tyquan Reed
Columbia Adventist Academy
2
7
Kaylee Long
Saluda Middle School
6
7
Vamsi Gorrepati
Dent Middle School
2
5
Reagan Collins
5
Jessica Kirby
Savannah Grove Elementary School
6
Megan Mudge
Savannah Grove Elementary School
5
Marion Mitchell
Cathedral Academy
5
Makayla DeMaria
Cathedral Academy
5
Cadence Napier
Cathedral Academy
5
Joseph Chastain
5
Kate Attias
5
Penny Jackson
Harleyville Elementary
5
Evan Overeen
Harleyville Elementary
5
Dakota Herder
Jade Island Academy
4
Margaret Stevens
5
Savannah Grove Elementary School
4
Congratulations to all the winners and everyone who participated!!
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