Through the Columbus Chapter of the American Statistical Association, the Department of Statistics sponsors the Statistical Analysis Award presented to students participating in the State Science Fair every year. The purpose of this award is to foster creativity and critical thinking and to encourage high school students to pursue a career in statistical science.

The 2015 State Science Fair was held at St. John Arena on May 16, 2015. There were 31 students in grades 10–12 competing for a Statistical Analysis Award. The research projects involved the application of a wide range of statistical methods, such as predictive modeling, graphical summaries of data, one- and two-sample t-tests, and analysis-of-variance.

Nine graduate students and three faculty members from the Department of Statistics judged the 31 projects. Seven of the projects were selected to receive the award, which consisted of both a certificate and a copy of Basic Practice of Statistics by Moore, Notz and Fligner.

The winners and the title of their research projects are listed below:

Ms. Samantha P. Rowland, Tippecanoe High School, Tipp City, Grade: 11
Gay Lussac’s Law vs. Deflategate

Ms. Amanda E. Janecek, Louisville High School, Louisville, Grade: 11
The Short-Term Effects of Water Temperature on PET Plastic

Ms. Madeline M. Moser, Louisville High School, Louisville, Grade: 10
The Effect of Various Types of Lighting on the Stereopsis of High School Students

Ms. Maeve K. Curliss, Carroll High School, Dayton, Grade: 10
The Effect of Increased Perceptual Load on Distractor Processing

Ms. Hannah J. Hottel, Northwestern High School, West Salem, Grade: 12
Comparing the Natural and Safe Treatment Effects on the Strongyle Parasites

Ms. Sara Aniol, Columbia High School, Columbia Station, Grade: 11
Does a Persons’s Age Affect Stereotyping?

Ms. Grace F. Fuchs, Rutherford B. Hayes High School, Delaware, Grade: 12
Studying the Establishment of Viburnum lantana