Orcas Island High School sophomore Tim Jenson placed first in the Funhouse’s 17th annual Science Fair and received a $1,000 scholarship. Last year, Jenson came in second place for the “Best use of Chemistry.”

Coming in second place this year at the March 25 competition was seventh-grader Kai Litch, earning a $650 scholarship. Third place was awarded to seventh-graders Uma McMurray and Alicia Talbot splitting a $350 scholarship award.

Recipients of the Richie Moore Rocketship of Wonder Award this year were Pedro Guerra and Finn Ruebottom. This award is given to the winner of the elementary school age group and will hang at The Funhouse, with the recipients’ names on it.

Every participant also got a certificate and a science prize.

While the projects were being judged, attendees enjoyed fruit, vegetables and barbecued hot dogs, watched as aluminum cans were melted and poured into molds and saw a large metal barrel implode.

The special guest presenter for this year’s fair was National Geographic television survivalist Hazan Audel from Spokane, Washington. He showed a slideshow of photos from his trips across the globe. Audel has traveled from the deserts of Africa to the frozen tundra of northern Canada and shared his adventures with the young scientists.