Carson High School student wins regional science fair

Carly Nystrom's clean hands are gaining national recognition.

The Carson High School sophomore won a regional science fair for her project on what inhibits the growth of the E-coli bacteria and is headed for the international competition.

She tested to see whether antibacterial soap was more effective than regular soap.

"The antibacterial soap did work better," she found. "The ones without antibacterial didn't work at all."

Although it had been more than 10 years since Carson High School hosted a science fair, students made an impressive showing at the regional competition at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Nystrom, 16, won the overall award and will go to the international competition in Cleveland, Ohio, during the week of May 11, when she will compete against 1,200 students from 40 countries.

"I'm really excited," she said. "I think it will be fun. I'll get to see all the projects, meet new people and see new things."

Christian Herbig took first place in the math and computer portion for his project on a musical computer program. He also won the $500 Bently Award.

Four other projects from the high school won second- and third-place honors as well.

"It was fabulous," said biology teacher Julie Koop. "I knew we had some good projects, but I had no idea we would be so competitive."

Nystrom said she came up with the idea after a health official talked to her culinary arts class about the dangers of deadly bacteria.

"I wanted to find a way to protect us," she said. "I thought it would be a project that would help people with products everyday people can get."

Ten student projects from the elementary level also placed in the regional science fair.

Winners from Carson City are:

Mark Twain Elementary School:

Kylie and Emily Schmid, kindergarten, first place

Mikayla Story, second grade, first place

Sean Cutunilli, third grade, special recognition

Seeliger Elementary School:

Timothy Grunert, third grade, fourth place

Jazmyn Stokes, fourth grade, honorable mention

Bordewich-Bray Elementary School:

Jace Carlson, third grade, honorable mention

Tyler Miller and Scotty Chandler, fourth grade, honorable mention

Fremont Elementary School:

Ricky McDonald, fourth grade, honorable mention

Fritsch Elementary School

Merrill Asp, fifth grade, first place

Spencer Roberts, fifth grade, second place -- inventor's fair

Carson High School:

Carly Nystrom, first in life science, first overall and second Bently Award.

Christian Herbig, first in math/computers and first Bently Award.

Tiffany Halen and Sharee Dunmore, second in environmental science

Jessica May, second in physical science

Ginny Clementi and Tamana Mobaligh, third place in physical science

Haley Simpson, third place in life science