Since 2001, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has been participating in the annual Loudoun County Regional Science Fair. Representatives attend the fair to judge the entries. Monetary awards are presented at Loudoun Wildlife’s Annual Meeting, where the students also have the opportunity to showcase their winning projects.
2018
Outstanding environmental conservation science award – Ryan Chong “Remediating Alliara petiolata Affected Soil With Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi”
Honorary Mention Award – Vrushti Joshi and Grace Maloney “Grow Greenly”
2017
Outstanding environmental or conservation science award – Jordan Davis “The relationship of mulch volcanoes on route collar disorders”
Honorary Mention Award – Hana Cho and Cody Youngblood “The effect of crumb rubber infill on Danio Rerio (Zebra Fish)”
2016
Special Award – Tara Gravallese, grade 12
The Effect of Fungicide Runoff on the Macroinvertebrate Community Structure
Honorary Mention Award – Lindsey Long, grade 11
The Effect of Riparian Buffer Zones on Macroinvertebrate Communities
2015
1st Place – Samantha Iliff The Effect of Coli phage T4r on Decontamination of Streams Infected with Escherichia Coli
2nd Place – Corwin Warner The Effect of Lemma minor as an Indicator of Heavy Metals
3rd Place – Eric Esposito The Effect of Bacteriophages on Nutrient Cycling in Soil Ecosystems
2014
1st Place – Izabella Valdez The Effects of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Laden Fertilizers on the Lifespan of the Mytilus edulis
2nd Place – Syed Hasnain The Effect Of Water Absorbing And Oil Absorbing Polymers
3rd Place – Alexandra Sarkis An Analysis of Biosymmetry as an Indicator of Ecosystem Health due to Hydraulic Fracturing and Landfill Management
2013
1st Place – Cara Broshkevitch and Anne Richards A Future with No Landfills
2nd Place – Mohini Singh The effect of Wolbachia (bacterium) on the Apis mellifera (honeybee) Population
3rd Place – Christopher Whimpenny The Effect of Housing Development Age on Soil Organic Carbon in Suburban Developments in Loudoun County, Virginia
2012
1st Place – Ehsan Jafree (Stone Bridge) The Relationship Between Impervious Surface Percent Cover and Stream Health in Loudoun County, VA
2nd Place – Lauren Salman (Stone Bridge) The Relationship Between Stream Location and Macroinvertebrate Health
3rd Place – Samuel Kane(Academy of Science, Dominion High School) Investigation of Lead Isotopes in Quircus spp. To Determine the Effects of Air Transportation on Pollutant Present
2011
1st Place: Molly Booth
Observing the Effect of Human Disturbance on Low Trophic Level Biodiversity
2nd Place: Ashley Lohr
Sugar Quality of Zinnia elegans as a Coevolution Factor in Color Selection by Lepidopterans
3rd Place: Sean O’Neil
The Effect of Organic Substances on Stink Bugs
2010
1st Place: Alexa Rizzo (Dominion High School, Sterling) Alexa did a study on the composition of fish ear bones to determine fish migratory routes.
2nd Place: Aubrey Higginson (Stone Bridge High School, Ashburn) Aubrey’s project was on quantifying the economic value of tree cover.
3rd Place: Lyons Sanchez Concha (Park View High School, Sterling.) Lyons’ project was titled “Which root grasps soil best.”
2009
1st Place: Reid Nebergall, Dominion High School “Rehabilitation of Ocean Dead Zones via Alternative Photosynthetic Pathways in Cyanobacteria.”
2nd Place: Ashley Lohr, Loudoun Valley High School “Butterfly Visitation on Different-Colored Buddleia davidii and Zinnia elegans”
3rd Place: Emile Atchison, Dominion High School “Save the Wildlife! Bacterial Remediation of Synthetic Pyrethroids”
2008
1st Place: Johnny (Jun-Hong) Kim, Stone Bridge High School “The Effect of Allaria Petiolata on the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Its Effect on the Growth of Native Plants”
2nd Place: Eric Bolden, Loudoun Valley High School “Effects of Water Temperature on Potentially Deadly Microorganisms”
3rd Place: Devon N. Reed, Dominion High School “Strength vs. Camouflage: The Evolutionary Tradeoffs of Pigmentation in Bird Eggs”
2007
1st Place: Vanessa Bornholdt, Broad Run High School “The Effects of a Horse Farm on the Health of a Stream”
2nd Place: Nadia Waterman, Freedom High School “The Effect of Lawn Fertilizers on Daphnia magna”
3rd Place: Robert Lee, Potomac Falls High School “If a Tree Falls in Forest . . .”
2006
1st Place: Nathan Latka, Loudoun County High School “The Effects Wetlands Have on a Waterways Flooding Frequency”
2nd Place: Ian Claar, Heritage High School “Effects of Urbanization on Tuscarora Creek”
2nd Place: Samantha Owens, Potomac Falls High School “Effects of Waste Removal Sites on Nearby Communities”
2005
1st Place: Alex Seebeck, Loudoun Valley High School “HE(L)P Barred Owl Habitat in Loudoun County, Virginia, USA”
2nd Place: Stephen Spurlock “Natural Resource or Natural Disaster? Population Dynamics of Whitetail Deer in Loudoun County”
2nd Place: Alyssa Sanow “The Impact of Non-Nitrogen-Based Super-Phosphate Fertilizer on Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Infestation and Hemlock Growth”
2nd Place: Claire Nawojchik “The Comparison of Small Mammal Populations in Two Differing Field Habitats at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve”
2004
1st Place: Alex Seebeck, Loudoun Valley High School “A Comparison of Habitat Suitability Index Models for Barred Owls in Loudoun County, VA”
2nd Place: Dhruva Rajendra, Dominion High School “The Effects of Fertilizers on the Breakdown of Motor Oil in a Freshwater Environment”
2nd Place: Stephen Spurlock, Loudoun Valley High School “Chronic Wasting Disease in Virginia”
2002
1st Place: Alex Seebeck, Loudoun Valley High School “The Relationship Between Barred Owl Calls and Responses During the Non-Breeding Season”
2nd Place: Gavin Ruedisueli
2nd Place: Jared Fausnaught
2001
1st Place: Jared Faustnaught, Loudoun County High School “The Effects of Impervious Surface on Stream Health”