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A winner in science

Bonney Lake High School senior happily receives $1000

By Avani Nadkarni/of The Herald

Bonney Lake High School senior William Edwards has always been a self-described science lover.

When he was in the third grade, Edwards and his older sister, Theresa, entered the Daffodil Valley Elementary science fair with a partner project entitled “What kind of potatoes make the best battery?” It was a hit and in following years, Daffodil Valley teachers saw more and more students submitting similar proposals for science projects.

“Other kids tended to copy the projects that me and my sister did,” Edwards recalled. “Now, they don’t allow anyone to do the potato project because it got so common.”

His love of science has paid off: On Jan. 13, the shocked Edwards was told in a cafeteria full of his peers that he was a semi-finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search 2010. Intel’s Washington Corporate Affairs Manager Rick Meeder was on hand to present Edwards with a $1,000 check — and presented another $1,000 check to Bonney Lake High School. Edwards, Meeder said, was one of just four semi-finalists from Washington and the only one in the Puget Sound region. The others are from Pullman, Vancouver and Sequim. Nationwide, 300 students were chosen.

“I was very excited when I found out,” Edwards said just minutes after he was presented with the check. “When I saw (Meeder), I was like ‘Wait, I know him!’”

To get to this stage, Edwards had to win in the regional competition, which was held earlier this year at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland. If he’s chosen as one of 40 finalists, Edwards will travel to Washington D.C. in mid-March.

Meeder said being a semi-finalist is a huge deal with the caliber of projects that were entered this year.

“We saw some very sophisticated research projects,” Meeder said. “These kids really are the best and the brightest. For companies like Intel that really care about science and math and engineering ... we love seeing what these kids can do.”

Intel’s Vice president of Corporate Affairs Shelly Esque shared the sentiment.

“(The semi-finalists) exemplify what is possible when young people are encouraged to apply math and science to solve today’s most challenging problems,” she said.

For his Science Talent Search project, Edwards enlisted fellow students from his Advanced Scientific Research class and tested different muscle groups on them to find the electric activity of the different muscle groups. His topic put his project squarely in the medicine and health category of the search. To enter the talent search, Edwards had to fill out an extensive application and write a 20-page research paper on the topic as well.

Interestingly, he said, his future plans don’t necessarily involve healthcare. Edwards plans to study mechanical engineering and one day hopes to work for NASA in aerospace technology. He’s currently deciding between Washington State University, University of Portland, University of Idaho and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Edwards said his love for science came from both his parents and each of his science teachers, especially Tim Garshaw, who was his first science teacher at Daffodil Valley.

“Between him and my parents, who are always supportive, and my science teachers in high school, that’s where I began to love science,” he said.

Although science and math are his first loves, Edwards said he believes in being well-rounded. He plays soccer, runs cross-country for Bonney Lake High School, does community service and even designs Web sites for people. He also said he dabbles in carpentry.

“I made my own bed and I’m in the process of building a coffee table and end tables for my parents,” Edwards said. “I really enjoy it.”

With all his other activities, plus juggling three Advanced Placement courses and college applications, Edwards said this was the first year since the famous potato project nine years ago that he wasn’t able to enter the school science fair. He isn’t bothered; he knows science will always be a part of his life.

“I’ve always loved it,” he said.

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Intel and Bonney Lake High School This isn’t the first time Intel’s name has buzzed around Bonney Lake High School: The computer hardware giant sponsors the school’s Project Lead the Way, which encourages students to become leaders in science, technology, engineering and math. “Intel does give us a ton of support,” said Ann Cook, Sumner School District’s communications director. It’s just one of the ways Intel keeps up with the future of the company and of the country, said Shelly Esque, the company’s vice president of corporate affairs. “We believe that fostering a passion for science and math in today’s youth is imperative for America’s future success as a leader in innovation,” she explained.