Royal High School represented Eastern Washington at the 2008 Student Biotech Expo in Bellevue last Tuesday, May 28. The five students worked for six months preparing their presentations: Ryan Lefler, a sophomore, designed a molecular model to explain the combustion of biofuels compared to "regular" fuels; Aaron Cedillo wrote a journalism paper about the process of biopulping compared to regular pulping (paper making process); Roberto Cruz wrote a lesson plan to teach an audience about the CCR5 receptor; Victor Godoy-Cortes and Cesar Nunez researched the structure of tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) to design its molecular model using RP-RasMol, a computer visualization program. They all had very professional posters and were very well evaluated by the judges. During the award ceremony, the team was honored with the highest prize of the event: the Award for Excellence in Biotechnology, something like being the State Champions in Biotech. Quite an accomplishment for a rural school!!! – Mario Godoy
