FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2017
Contact:
Lyz Hoffman, District Public Information Officer, (805) 961-8819
District Congratulates Santa Maria High School Student
for California State Science Fair Honor
Jennifer Hernandez-Mora Participated in Summer Science Institute at Allan Hancock College
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District congratulates Jennifer Hernandez-Mora, a junior at Santa Maria High School, for her outstanding air quality science project and recognition at the California State Science Fair. Hernandez-Mora received an honorable mention in Environmental Science for her project studying localized particle pollution using a handheld air sensor, as well as a special $1,500 Air Quality Award for the best air quality project in her division from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the largest air district in California.
Hernandez-Mora worked on her project — highlighted in a recent District newsletter article — last year as a student in the Summer Science Institute at Allan Hancock College, a six-week program where students design science projects. Riccardo Magni, a teacher at Pioneer Valley High School in Santa Maria, leads the program, which has sent 14 students to the California State Science Fair over the last seven years. “This program lets students take an in-depth look at a scientific concept that they find interesting. They learn a lot, have fun, and make great connections,” said Magni. “I’m so proud of Jennifer for her hard work and interest in this topic. She did a fantastic job.”
Hernandez-Mora attended the launch of the District’s “Catching Air” exhibit at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum in December to discuss her project. “We are so excited for Jennifer,” said District Director Aeron Arlin Genet. “She studied something that matters to all of us — air quality — and presented an outstanding project. The recognition of her efforts is very well deserved.”
Prior to advancing to the State Science Fair, Hernandez-Mora competed in the Santa Barbara County Science Fair in March and won a silver medal. The State Science Fair, held in Los Angeles April 24-25, had 927 students from 400 schools across the state presenting 814 projects.
Find more information on handheld air sensors.
For more information on the Summer Science Institute, email Riccardo Magni at [email protected].
