2022 Contest Winners

The first place prize in the 9^th-12^th grade division is awarded to Daniel Bet Sarghez and Matthew Keshishian of Clark Magnet High School in La Crescenta (L.A. County) for a project entitled “CTE Mission: CubeSat.” This StoryMap highlights the work of the school’s GIS and Remote Sensing team. The group entered a national competition and ended up implementing the project they designed to map homeless encampments in high-risk fire zones in Los Angeles. They collected their own data using remote sensing techniques.

Other students recognized in the 9^th-12^th grade division include:

• Second place: Israel Jurado, Bonita Vista High School, Los Angeles: Median Household Income and School Attendance
• Third place: Kaitlin Bertrand, Bonita Vista High School, Chula Vista: Dance in High School
• Fourth place: Ervin Kamali, Clark Magnet High School, La Crescenta: Cannabis Cultivation in California
• Fifth Place: Tadeh Peroomian, Clark Magnet High School, La Crescenta: Classroom Purifier or a Live Wire?

The first place prize in the 4th-8th grade division is awarded to Olivia Shekou of Ross School in Ross (Marin County) for a project entitled “Rising Sea Levels.” This StoryMap goes beyond describing the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels to inspire action.  The author applies documentary film-making concepts and calls it a “mapumentary.”Other students recognized in the 4^th-8^th grade division include:

• Second place: Gabriela Bizarro and Diana Sorto, Hollenbeck STEM Magnet, Los Angeles: Air Pollution in Boyle Heights
• Third place: Alegra Huck and Charles Sutro, Ross School, Ross: Shark Attacks in California
• Fourth place: Matthew Arce, Hollenbeck STEM Magnet, Los Angeles: The Liquor Store Story: Difficulties Young Students can Face
• Fifth Place: Abigail Silva and Aimee Rios, Hollenbeck STEM Magnet, Los Angeles: Rent and Income in Los Angeles

2021 Contest Winners

Congratulations to all the teachers and students who worked through challenging times to develop their projects and make the contest deadline. We are thrilled to be able to share and showcase your work!

Click on the title of any project to view the Story Map project.

Grades 4-8:
1st Fabian Flores Plascencia and Ahmed Kabbaj, James Rutter Middle School (Teacher: Karen Koenig-Sanko), Sacramento: From Retail to Multiple Residential.
2nd Rosie Yang and Mazhar Jamil, James Rutter Middle School (Teacher: Karen Koenig-Sanko), Sacramento: California Earthquakes.
3rd Yangxin Ye, James Rutter Middle School (Teacher: Karen Koenig-Sanko), Sacramento: California Chinese Experience in the 19th Century.
4th Adrian Ramirez, Hollenbeck STEM Magnet (Teacher: Laura Ruiz), Los Angeles: Poverty Line and Rising: What correlations exist between poverty and “problem” neighborhoods?
5th Ethan Hsu, Los Coyotes Middle School (Teacher: Della Robertson), La Mirada: COVID-19: Why Vaccines are Widening the Social Divide.

Grades 9-12:
1st Manuel Jurado, Bonita Vista High School (Teacher: Kelly León), Chula Vista: Money and School: Analysis and Depiction of Money at a Secondary Educational Level.
2nd David Abramyan and Tadeh Amirkhanian, Anderson Clark Magnet High School (Teacher: Dominique Evans-Bye), Los Angeles: Our Haste to Reduce Food Waste
3rd Sofia Sanchez, Bonita Vista High School (Teacher: Kelly León), Chula Vista: COVID-19, Race, and Income.
4th Eliana Santos, Bonita Vista High School (Teacher: Kelly León), Chula Vista: Effects of Income on San Diego Skateboarding.
5th Madeleine Faye Mann, Bonita Vista High School (Teacher: Kelly León), Chula Vista: COVID-19 Vaccinations in California.

2020 Contest Winners

Finalists, Grades 4-8:
1st Jaydon Do and Leo Liang, James Rutter Middle School (Teacher: Karen Sanko), Sacramento, “Bay Delta – Center of California Water Wars.”
2nd Mia Song, Los Coyotes Middle School (Teacher: Della Robertson), La Mirada, “Camp Fire.”
3rd Mihir Konkapaka, Morning Creek Elementary School (Teacher: Soumya Chennapragada), Poway, “State of the Air – California.”
4th Colin Khoang, Los Coyotes Middle School (Teacher: Della Robertson), La Mirada, “California’s Role in WWII.”

Honorable Mentions go to:

• Arjun Virk, Vinewood Elementary School (Teacher: Nicole Dickinson), Lodi, “Habitat Destruction in California.“
• Abby Deise and Madison Frame, Vinewood Elementary School (Teacher: Nicole Dickinson), Lodi, “All About Disneyland.”

Finalists, Grades 9-12:
1st Natalie Baghumyan and Matt Orbita, Clark Magnet High School (Teacher: Dominique Evans-Bye), Glendale, “The Growing Threat in the WUI.“
2nd (tie) Michaella Reyes and Jannice Rigor, Clark Magnet High School (Teacher: Dominique Evans-Bye), Glendale, “Litter Makes our Water Bitter.”
David Abramyan, Clark Magnet High School (Teacher: Dominique Evans-Bye), Glendale, “Optimizing Clark Bus Routes.”
4th Nagashreya Guntireddy and Arpi Keshishian, Clark Magnet High School (Teacher: Dominique Evans-Bye), Glendale, “Conception Tragedy.”
5th Adam Kaplan, Clark Magnet High School (Teacher: Dominique Evans-Bye), Glendale, “Where Does our School Litter Go?.”

Honorable Mention goes to:

• Maya Bartkowiak, Bishop O’Dowd High School (Teacher: Sarah Bremer), Oakland, “Pollution and Population.“

2019 Contest Winners

• Finalists, Grades 4-8:
  • Winners (advance to national competition): Xavier R. Muñoz and Isaiah Thao, James Rutter Middle School, Sacramento: “Tubbs Fire” (https://bit.ly/2G8Xu5H)
    ***UPDATE: This project was selected as national runner-up***
  • Stanley Vang and Akire Xiong, James Rutter Middle School, Sacramento: “Deer Creek Hills and the Gold Rush” (https://bit.ly/2GkxPbq)
  • Nathalia Magdaleno and Viet Truong, James Rutter Middle School, Sacramento: “Digital Literacy in Sacramento County” (https://bit.ly/2G8YvuD)
  • Marian Torres and Cody Nguyen , Los Coyotes Middle School, La Mirada: “Crime in Compton” (https://bit.ly/2V4Vxgm)
  • Jose Coronado, James Rutter Middle School, Sacramento: “Camp Fire” (https://bit.ly/2VHb7zA)
• Finalists, Grades 9-12:
  • Winners (advance to national competition): Paul Kim and Serli Khanbabael, Clark Magnet High School, La Crescenta: “Heavy Metals Sediment Analysis Between LA Harbor and LA River” (http://arcg.is/qKm5b)
  • Evelyn Torres and Irma Mateo, Godinez Fundamental High School, Santa Ana: “Skate Equity for Santa Ana Youth” (http://bit.ly/YASCSkateCampaignKW)
  • Guadalupe Barrera and Luis Ruvalcaba, Godinez Fundamental High School, Santa Ana: “The Reality of Food Access in Santa Ana” (http://bit.ly/KWSAHNAFoodAccess)
  • Adam Kaplan, Clark Magnet High School, La Crescenta: “California Drought and Snowpack” (https://arcg.is/0nSXee)
  • Robert Yetter and Omar Mora, Bonita Vista High School, Chula Vista: “What Led to the Hepatitis A Outbreak in Downtown San Diego?” (https://arcg.is/0aLbP)

2018 Contest Winners

4^th-8^th grade division:

1^st place (will advance to the national competition):
Jessica Huynh and Sorina Ngin, The Impacts of the Homeless on the American River Parkway
James Rutter Middle School, Sacramento (Teacher/Project Mentor: Karen Sanko)

2^nd place:
Shounak Ray Chaudhuri and Gurshawn Boparai, Ten Endangered Animals of California
Morning Creek Elementary School, Poway (Teacher/Project Mentor: Soumya Chennapragada)

3^rd place:
Theodore Saechao, The Change of Student Population in Elk Grove Schools
James Rutter Middle School, Sacramento (Teacher/Project Mentor: Karen Sanko)

4^th place:
Emma Ruud, LGBT Pride Parades
Rancho Cucamonga Middle School, Davis (Teacher/Project Mentor: Jill Schwartz)

5^th place:
Hamza Jaleel and Clay Ballard, California in the Civil War
Holmes Junior High School, Davis (Teacher/Project Mentor: Anna Amsler)

Honorable Mention:
Owen Michaels, The Husky
Vinewood Elementary School, Lodi (Teacher/Project Mentor: Nicole Dickinson)
Mihir Konkapaka, Junior Ranger Programs in California
Morning Creek Elementary School, Poway (Teacher/Project Mentor: Soumya Chennapragada)

 

9^th-12^th grade division:

1^st place (will advance to the national competition):
Emily Woods and Sangam Sharma, A Sprinkle in Time @ Clark
Clark Magnet High School, La Crescenta (Teacher/Project Mentor: Dominique Evans-Bye)

2^nd place:
Marcello Vazquez, Glendale Crime Data
Clark Magnet High School, La Crescenta (Teacher/Project Mentor: Dominique Evans-Bye)

3^rd place:
Gillian Lowe, California’s Fires at the End of 2017
Clark Magnet High School, La Crescenta (Teacher/Project Mentor: Dominique Evans-Bye)

4^th place:
Anna Fedderen, Oroville Story: Before and After
Clark Magnet High School, La Crescenta (Teacher/Project Mentor: Dominique Evans-Bye)

5^th place:
Justice Garner, OUSD Schools Field Study: Equity and Environmental Justice
Bishop O’Dowd High School, Oakland (Teacher/Project Mentor: Sarah Bremer)

Honorable Mention:
Abigail Pagila, Alameda Boba Shops
Bishop O’Dowd High School, Oakland (Teacher/Project Mentor: Sarah Bremer)

2017 Middle School (4^th-8^th grade) Winners

Hazalle Leiva and Mario Silva	Hollenbeck Middle School STEM Magnet (Teacher Laura Ruiz)
“Liquor Stores and Schools“
Gavin Mora and Nathan Larson	Vinewood Elementary (Teacher Nicole Dickinson)
“Sports Locations“
Pranay Kulkarni	Morning Creek Elementary School (Teacher Soumya Chennapragada)
“Rocks and Minerals of National Parks in California“
Annalyn Grant and Camille Troy		Vinewood Elementary (Teacher Nicole Dickinson)
“Endangered Species“

 

 

2017 High School (9^th-12^th grade) Winners

Erika Hookasian and Mari Jrbashyan	Clark Magnet High School (Teacher Dominique Evans-Bye)
“California Drought“
Claire  Lytle	Kearny School of Science, Connections & Technology (Teacher Corri-Anne Burgess)
“Comparing Obesity Levels to Socioeconomic Status in 5th Graders for SDUSD“
Asad Dalmar and Alex Baustista	Kearny School of Science, Connections & Technology (Teacher Corri-Anne Burgess)
“Body Composition K-12“
Gerardo Cosio and Jesus Acosta		Math, Science and Technology Magnet Academy at Roosevelt High School (Teacher Mariana Ramirez)
“Classmates Not Inmates“
Dominique Haro and Betsayda Puerta			Math, Science and Technology Magnet Academy at Roosevelt High School (Teacher Mariana Ramirez)
“Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)“