Live Oak, Midway Students Win Top Prizes at Science and Engineering Fair at TSTC

(WACO) – Two students who were the only representatives of their high schools were the top winners in the Central Texas Science and Engineering Fair held Tuesday and Wednesday at Texas State Technical College.

Caleb Chakmakjian, 15, of Live Oak Classical School and Remi Labeille, 15, of Midway High School were the overall winners and are eligible for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May in Pittsburgh.

Chakmakjian tested different methods of making potassium nitrate for small rockets for his project. This work was a continuation of what he did for last year’s science and engineering fair.

“Caleb has unending tenacity and a tremendous amount of fortitude,” said Melinda Johnson, a Live Oak Classical School science teacher who has taught him in the past. “He is methodical and analytical. He could at some point send a vehicle of his own into space.”

Labeille genetically engineered yeast for biofuel production for his project. He said his goal was to find a better way to produce biofuel.

“He was self-motivated and worked with someone from Michigan State University who has done similar research,” said Kathy McMillan, an Advanced Placement biology teacher and science instruction support specialist at Midway High School.

McMillan said Labeille continues Midway’s winning tradition at the science fair. While this is Labeille’s first time at the top, Midway alumnus and Harvard University student Edward Kim won three consecutive times.

There were more than 100 projects from Brownwood, Cameron, Corsicana, China Spring, McGregor and Waco students on topics such as animal science, biochemistry, mathematics and robotics.

“Don’t stop experimenting and don’t stop playing and having fun,” TSTC Provost Adam Hutchison told students before awards were presented Wednesday morning. “Keep asking the questions that are helping us to build a better tomorrow.”

A team from Live Oak Classical School won the Junior Science Bowl held Tuesday at TSTC’s IDEAS Center.

Live Oak Classical School swept the junior divisions in biochemistry, microbiology and plant science and C.H. Yoe High School in Cameron won the top three spots in the senior division’s plant science category.

The first-, second- and third-place winners in junior and senior divisions are eligible to attend the Texas Science and Engineering Fair on March 23-24 in San Antonio.

For more information on the Central Texas Science and Engineering Fair, go to ctsef.org.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.