Thirty-two eighth-graders from St. Joseph's School, Sharon, presented original science projects at Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science's regional meeting March 1 at Slippery Rock University.

The following received first-place awards:

   » Jason Bradac -- "The Bullet Penetration Using a .22 Rifle."

   » Catherine Campbell -- "The Effect of Different Music on Memory."

   » Daniel Connelly -- The Effect of the Dominant and Non-Dominant Eye on Throwing a Baseball."

   » Leah Chuey -- "The Dissolving Rate of Tylenol."

   » Ross Gargano -- "The Effect of Radiation on the Growth of Bean Plants." The son of Neil and Barb Gargano, Sharon, also earned a bond for best-in-category for botany.

   » Allison Gibson -- "The Number of Zooplankton vs. the Population of Freshwater Jellyfish."

   » Mallory Goguen -- "The Effect of Topical Facial Cleansers on Acne."

   » Victor Kopen -- "The Effect of Caffeine on the Life Cycle of Fruit Flies." The son of Jack and Doreen Kopen, Hermitage, also earned a bond for best-in-category for biology.

   » Jason Lane -- "The Factors Affecting the Bounce of a Ball."

   » David MacHarg -- "The Effect of pH on the Regeneration of Planaria."

   » Eduardo Mateo -- "Matters Effecting Electromagnets."

   » Daniel McEvoy -- "The Effects of Sugar on Reaction Time."

   » Michael Moroco -- "Variables of the Stroop Effect."

   » Shannon O'Brien -- "The Effect of Soda on the Heart Rate of Daphnia."

   » Chris Pacsi -- "Which Golf Ball Goes the Farthest."

   » Seth Salcedo -- "The Depth of Concave on a Person's Ollie."

   » Samantha Wiesen -- "Which Gender Uses Which Basketball?"

   » Jenna Zidansek -- "Effect of Cough Medicine on Daphnia's Heart Rate."

The following received second-place awards:

   » Michelle Billen -- "The Effect of Movies on the Heart Rate and Blood Pressure on Humans."

   » Heather Brooks -- "Effect of Various Waters on Regeneration of Planaria."

   » Dean Catania -- "The Effects of Drugs on the Heart Rate of Daphnia."

   » Eddie D'Onofrio -- "The Effect of Color on Taste Perception."

   » John Davidson -- "The Effect of Different Light on the Regeneration of Planaria."

   » Bryan Frankovich -- "The Effect of Radioactivity on the Regeneration of Planaria."

   » Daniel George -- "The Effects of Running on the Heart Rate and Breath Rate."

   » Robbie Homer -- "The Effects of Antihistamines on the Heart Rate of Daphnia Magna."

   » Tiffany Kardos -- "The Effect of Ammonia on the Growth Rate of Grass."

   » Derek Lockovich -- "The Effect of Chewing Gum on Cavity Prevention."

   » Jeremy Redmond -- "Factors Affecting the Elasticity of Bands."

   » Valerie Rutherford -- "The Effects of Whitening Products on Teeth."

   » William Sundy -- "The Effect of Acid Rain on Phaseolus vulgaris."

   » Tressa Weldon -- "Effect of Gender on Voice Recognition."

Each student chose a project, researched known facts, formulated a hypothesis, collected and analyzed data and stated a conclusion. Teachers, college professors and college students judged the 10-minute presentation.

Students this year used digital camera pictures and constructed transparencies using Excel and Power Point. Margaret Alford, a science teacher; and Laurel Stephenson, an English teacher, sponsored the students.