Three Gold Beach High School students walked away from the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair with cash prizes and scholarship awards.

The science fair, which was held last week in Portland, had projects that ranged from fiber optics and nanowires to energy efficient windows and sedimentary runoff. Team Oregon was made up of the "Best of Fair" winners from eight regional fairs in the state and the Northwest Science Expo, including 14 male and 22 female students that came from 11 Oregon and Southwest Washington high schools.

Team Oregon students received more than $450,000 in scholarships and awards while they competed against more than 1,400 students from 41 countries competed for more than $3 million in prizes, as well as $1 million in scholarships from Oregon public and private universities.

"A passion for science and mathematics ensures that many of these Intel ISEF finalists will become tomorrow's great scientists and innovators," said Intel CEO Craig Barrett. "As these students complete their education and move into the workforce, I hope they will collaborate across national boundaries to help cure diseases, protect the environment and develop breakthrough technologies that may one day change the world."

Of the 36 local students from Oregon and SW Washington representing Team Oregon in the fair, 22 - or 72 percent - received an award. Among the winners were representatives from Gold Beach High School.

The Southwestern Oregon Regional Science Expo held on March 6 at Southwestern Oregon Community College sent finalists Allison Blackwell and Holland MacLaurie and alternates, Kelsy Skinner and Will Taylor. Mike Olson was a finalist from the state fair, Northwest Science Expo held April 2 at Portland State University.

Southwestern's Division Director of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Sarah Recken said all five local students left the science fair with a Planar flat screen computer monitor (valued at $1,500).

Receiving other awards were:

- The second-year study of how the Biscuit Fire affected soils and rhizosphere recovery garnered Michael Olson first place awards from Southern Oregon University and Oregon State University. Both schools offered the 17-year-old four-year scholarships that are valued at $5,000 a year.

- Allison Blackwell used her project to study the influence of leaf characteristics on "Sudden Oak Death" susceptibility. The 17-year-old received a $1,000 first-place award from the American Phytopathological Society.

- Holland MacLaurie's project won first place for her work on the genetic variation in fir - the Abies procera-Abies magnifica complex. The 18-year-old received first place scholarships from Western Oregon University and Oregon State University. The four-year scholarships are valued at $5,000 a year.

Sponsored by Intel since 1997, the International Science and Engineering Fair is the world's largest pre-college science competition showcasing the world's most promising young scientists and inventors.

The fair has been administered for the past 55 years by Science Service, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the understanding and appreciation of science among people of all ages through publications and educational programs.

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On the Net:

Science Service and Intel's International Science and Engineering Fair: www.sciserv.org.