Former Educational Horizons student, River Grace won the top $25,000 prize in the Broadcom MASTERS national science competition.
The 14-year-old West Melbourne resident was honored with the Samueli Foundation Prize for overall excellence in science, technology, engineering and math, also known as the STEM fields. River also will have a newly discovered asteroid named after him. Grace was one of 30 finalists from 17 states who attended the third annual Broadcom Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars, or MASTERS, competition. “I had no idea I’d win this,” Grace said. “Any one of us could have won.”
River’s project was titled “Rain Dance of the Radiata: Behavior of the Endangered Radiated Tortoise and Related Species.”
While researching the Radiated Tortoise, River realized that not much is known about the species, which is only found in southern Madagascar. It’s critically endangered, and scientists estimate it could be extinct in the next 20 years.
Below are some related news articles and tweets about his project and recent trip to Washington D.C. Way to go, River!
‘Rain Dance’ lands local student on national list – Florida Today
West Shore student wins top national science prize – Florida Today
Tortoise-studying teen takes top Broadcom prize – Science News
Tortoise ‘Rain Dance’ Wins Broadcom MASTERS Science Fair – Business Insider
West Shore student’s endangered tortoise project earns $25,000 – Florida Today
The mysterious "rain dance" of the radiated tortoise landed River Grace, 14, the MASTERS $25k Grand Prize. Read more: http://t.co/BnmAvShggZ
— Broadcom Corporation (@Broadcom) October 3, 2013
Congrats to River Grace, top winner at the national Broadcom MASTERS #science competition #Brevard @brevardSchools pic.twitter.com/sCaiHwJsHk
— Mackenzie Ryan (@Mackenzie_Ryan) October 2, 2013
Brevard Zoo would like to congratulate local student River Grace, winner of the Samueli Foundation Prize for… http://t.co/eg3KVRhqhj
— BrevardZoo (@BrevardZoo) October 3, 2013
West Shore 'scientist' national winner: West Shore Jr./Sr. High School student River Grace won the top $25,000… http://t.co/NzY1CpKZmA
— Brevard County News (@brevardnews) October 3, 2013
Congrats to River Grace on winning the $25,000 Samueli Foundation Prize for overall STEM excellence: http://t.co/a2fNcO2Ztv #brcmMASTERS
— Society for Science (@Society4Science) October 2, 2013