Students from Ventura and La Reina high schools took home the most awards at this week's county science fair.

Students finishing first, second or third in their categories received plaques during a ceremony Thursday evening at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, where the science fair was held, said John Tarkany, county competition coordinator. Students who placed fourth were given medals.

Judges examined 610 projects prepared by about 725 local students.

"This year the judges were really impressed at the interview phase and assessment of the students' projects," said Cary Dritz, associate superintendent of student services for the county Office of Education.

"They wanted to make sure the students really understood the method they used and demonstrated they had a good scientific understanding. Every one of the projects was unique and very exciting to see."

Ventura High School took 13 first-, second-, third- or fourth-place spots in the senior division alone, while La Reina — a private Catholic school in Thousand Oaks — garnered a total of 15 awards in the senior and junior divisions.

The categories covered various topics, from electrical and mechanical engineering to behavioral and social science.

This year's theme, "Science in Our Lives," focused on how science and technology affect and surround us every day, Tarkany said.

Students who won first or second places, or third in some categories, will move on to the state competition May 19-20 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Students who are moving on to state

Animal Sciences: Junior Division first, Sean Callero, Los Cerritos Middle School; second, Sarah Root, Mesa School; third, Erica Preciado and Sarah Shaw, Briggs School; Senior Division first, Brenna Callero, La Reina; second, Alexandra Wall and Samantha Martinez, La Reina; third, Rebekah Doyle and Audrianna Bonilla, Buena High School.

Behavioral and Social Sciences: Junior Division first, Jessica Winter, Mesa; second, Leah Gunn, Medea Creek Middle School; third, Marena Mazurek, Our Lady of the Assumption School; Senior Division first, Emily Stephens and Tori Adler, Ventura High; second, Kelsey Morton, Ventura High; third, Cardine Ramirez and Stephany Gonzalez, Ventura High.

Amgen Biochemistry: Junior Division first, Jack Ireland, Sequoia Intermediate School; second, Samir Malhotra and Sumedh Shah, Redwood Intermediate School; Senior Division first, Emily Zafaghari, La Reina; second, Margo Georghiou, Ventura High.

Chemistry: Junior Division first, Elly Shao, La Reina; second, Grace Ng, Los Cerritos Middle School; third, Anna Burrows, La Reina; Senior Division first, Erik Aidukas, Westlake High School; second, Wyatt Gormley and Jaime Higareda, Thousand Oaks High School; third, Colin Delaney, Ventura High.

Earth and Planetary Sciences: Junior Division first, Parker Amstutz, Bethany Christian School; second, David Doan, Rose Avenue School.

Energy and Transportation: Junior Division first, Aaron Schroeder, Medea Creek; second, Shane Csiszar, Pinecrest School.

HAAS Engineering Electrical and Mechanical: Junior Division first, Blake Tickell, Chaparral Middle School; second, Jamie Vigil, Sacred Heart School; Senior Division first, Sol Moon, Moorpark High School; second, Jodi Loo, La Reina.

HAAS Engineering Materials and Bioengineering: Junior Division first, Jacob Kohlhepp, Sequoia Intermediate; second, Adam Kaplan, Medea Creek.

Environmental Sciences and Management: Junior Division first, Kristin Lopez, Sacred Heart School; second, Hannan Heitzig, La Reina; Senior Division first, Sarah Doyel, Ventura High; second, Sambavi Ramakrishnan, La Reina.

Medicine and Health Sciences: Junior Division first, Laura Vajcovec, Mesa; second, Adrianna Audenino, Sequoia; Senior Division first, Audrina LeBlanc, Hueneme High School; second, Phoebe Ng, Westlake High.

Microbiology: Junior Division first, Jonathan Woolley, Sequoia; second, Dayle Morris, Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education.

Physics and Astronomy: Junior Division first, Vivian Rotenstein, Medea Creek; second, Jordan Hisel, La Reina; third, Lacey Smith, La Reina; Senior Division first, Jaquelyn Lauletta, La Reina; second, Tom Hess, Ventura High; third, Vianney Cassyleon, Hueneme High.

Plant Sciences: Junior Division first, Cole Berweiler, Medea Creek; second, Ian Borchard, Mesa; third, Sanjay Siddhanti, Sycamore School; Senior Division first, Janel Raab and Francesca McClintic, Santa Clara High School; second, Alexandria Sharpe, Hueneme High; third, Sheila Roque, Hueneme High.