Students from four DC area counties take home awards in The Aerospace Corporation's Annual Science Competition

CHANTILLY, Va. (May 27, 2010) -- The winners of The Aerospace Corporation's 2010 Robert H. Herndon Science Competition were recognized during a ceremony April 29 at its offices in Chantilly, Va. The students are from high schools and middle schools in Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia and Montgomery and Prince Georges counties in Maryland. The competition offered students various ways to participate, including essays, experiments, science fairs, and computer intensive applications.

Deepa Issa and Lori Bowler from Belmont Ridge Middle School in Loudoun County, Va., took first place for their experiment entitled "The Effect of Greenhouse Gases on Air Temperature." Each was awarded a $500 gift certificate.

Jimmy O'Neill from Briar Wood High School in Loudoun County, Va., had the first place essay in the high school level division and Michael Lieberman from Irving Middle School in Fairfax County, Va., won first place in the middle school level.

Taking first place in the Montgomery County Science Fair was Russell McQueeney, Winston Churchill High School.

First place in the Loudoun County Science Fair went to Brandon Joseph Weight from Briar Wood High School.

Second place in the category of Computer Intensive Applications went to Kyle Starost, Redland Middle School in Montgomery County, Md. No first place award was made in this category.

The competition, named for the late Aerospace scientist and mentor Robert H. Herndon, is designed to stimulate interest among minority students in science, engineering, and technology, and increase diversity within the aerospace industry.

Contact Pam Keeton, 703-812-0648 or Pamela.V.Keeton@aero.org.