Nevada students make semifinals of annual Discovery science contest

Afsha Bawany

Friday, Sept. 5, 2003 | 4:01 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: Sept. 5, 2003

Seven Nevada students have been named semifinalists in the fifth annual 2003 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge.

The challenge encourages excellence in students in grades 5 through 8 and recognizes young scientists who demonstrate the best leadership, teamwork, communication and scientific problem solving skills.

The semifinalists are:

Shankari Vani Rajagopal, seventh grade, of Churchill County Junior High in Fallon; Merrill Einar Asp, fifth grade, of Edith W. Fritsch Elementary School in Carson City; Rachelle Taylor, eighth grade, of Fertitta Middle School, Las Vegas; Michael Ashton Halopoff, fifth grade, of James Gibson Elementary School, Henderson; Teila Denise Irwin and Samantha Mahealani Frandsen, both in sixth grade, of Hunsberger Elementary School in Reno; and Chase Alexander Traficanti, sixth grade, of Jessie Beck Elementary School in Reno.

There are 400 semifinalists from 45 states and the District of Columbia. The students range in ages 10 to 15. The Discovery Channel selects semifinalists based on the quality of each student's original science project and their ability to explain the scientific elements of their project.

The 400 semifinalists will be narrowed to 40 who will advance to the finalist competition held Oct. 19 through Oct. 22 in Washington. This year's theme is "Flight at 100" to commemorate 100 years of aviation.

The students are competing for more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes as well as the title of "America's Top Scientist of the Year."