TOP 300 IN NATIONAL STEM COM


STUDENT ACHIEVES PETITION


W i l l iam Sahagun, an Al ternat ive Educat ion student , has earned him a place as one of the Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS compet i tors in the 9th annual Broadcom MASTERS compet i t ion for middle school students. W i l l iam's project , Investigating the Inhibitory Effect of Psidium guajava Leaf Extract on Carbohydrate Digestive Enzymes, was one of 2,348 projects entered. Out of the 300 top compet i tors, 30 wi l l be selected to compete


for more than $100,000 in awards and pr izes dur ing a four -day compet i t ion.


For W i l l iam, i t was never about the cash or pr izes that mot ivated him to enter the prest igious contest . ?In doing my science fair project , I tr ied to focus on what I could learn more than winning. I learned that enzymes are very power ful and to accept frustrat ion as par t of conduct ing an exper iment ; especial ly when what I expect to happen is not happening.?


Debut ing his topic in 7th


grade, W i l l iam has worked at refining his research and data gather ing. Beginning wi th only one enzyme, W i l l iam has increased his exper iments to include four enzymes. W i l l iam?s project has al ready garnered a 3rd place r ibbon at distr ict , 1st place r ibbon at county, and a 2nd place r ibbon at the state compet i t ions.


W i l l iam?s mother Gem Sahagun says her son has always loved working wi th numbers and gather ing data. Sahagun was exci ted by the suppor t W i l l iam received from the Magnol ia staff when she first approached them wi th the idea of W i l l iam enter ing the science fair through their campus. As a student wi th aut ism complet ing his studies


onl ine, W i l l iam has gained valuable ski l ls interact ing wi th others and is an example that everyone can achieve their dream.


Yet throughout his successes, W i l l iam acknowledges people who have helped him along the way. ?I?d l ike to thank Huer ta del Val le for let t ing me pick guava leaves from their farm, my mom for being my lab par tner , my sister for explaining the scient i fic terms in the research, the team at Chino Val ley Medical Center for informat ion about diabetes, Mrs. Cynthia Hanna (my Al ternat ive Educat ion teacher ), Mrs. Gabr iela Rivas-Lopez, Mr. Daniel Gumarang, and Mrs. Teresa Marquez and the staff of Ramona Jr. High for their suppor t .?


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27