Yoe High student to represent region at International Science Fair

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Yoe High students, from left, Neeraj Bhatka, Chandler Barton, Faith Kistler and Rebecca Kostroun brought home several awards from the Central Texas Science and Engineering Fair in Waco on Feb. 22. Bhatka won first place in the plant science division and will represent the region at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in California in May.

Yoe High School junior Neeraj Bhatka will represent the region at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May in Los Angeles after winning the Central Texas Science and Engineering Fair at Texas State Technical College in Waco on Feb. 22.

Bhatka won first place in the plant science division.

Yoe High freshman Rebecca Kostroun was named an alternate to the international event. She placed first in biomedical and health sciences.

Two other Yoe High students also placed at the event. Chandler Barton placed first in Mathematics and Faith Kistler placed third in behavior and social sciences.

All 4 qualified for the State Science and Engineering Fair to be held March 31 in San Antonio.

Bhakta, who wants to attend Texas A&M University, said his project, “The Reaction of Vegetation to Cultivation after Remaining Undisturbed for 15 Years,” was tied to his longtime appreciation for nature.

“I can name 315 species of plants,” he said.

Students from schools in Brown, McLennan, Milam and Navarro counties received awards in junior and senior divisions at the event’s recognition ceremony. Students from 13 Central Texas counties entered more than 150 projects ranging from engineering to animal science for the 61st annual event.

“I felt we had a successful fair this year,” said Linda Morris, an adjunct instructor in TSTC’s Environmental Health and Safety and Radiation Protection Technology program and science fair co-chair. “This is where a student is able to take a personal interest and turn it into a project.”

Along with Bhakta, Edward Kim, 17, a senior at Midway High School in Waco will represent the region at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May in Los Angeles.

Kim is a repeat winner at the regional event and last year won in biochemistry at the international contest. Kim, a valedictorian of his senior class who plans to attend Harvard University this fall, said the contest’s research projects all start with the scientific method, then work down to students’ curiosity and actions.

For more information on the science fair, go to ctsef.org.