By: Abby Nadeau
Proctor Journal

For the past four years, Elizabeth Welsh has turned her curiosity into an award-winning project.

Her recent achievement was last week when she was the first runner up in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize where she won a trophy, $500 for herself and another $1,000 for Proctor High School.

The winner was awarded a trip to Stockholm, Sweden in August for the international competition.

Four years ago, Welsh was watching a feature story on the news about a man named Steve McComas. McComas was doing a research project on how barley straw affects blue-green algae. Welsh was intrigued by the story and decided to investigate barley?s affect on green algae.

With the help of many scientists and mathematicians including Dr. Robert Lloyd, Phil Monson, Dr. Andrew Klemer and Randy Hedin, all from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Welsh was able to fully explore the possible effects.

Last year Welsh?s Stockholm Junior Water Prize entry was ?The Effect of Aerated Barley Straw Liquor on Selenastrum capricornutum (a green algae).

The purpose of Welsh?s experiment this year was ?to determine whether barley straw treatments could control macrophyte and possible future algal problems in Wild Rice Lake.?

Welsh, who will be a senior at Proctor this fall, has won numerous awards at the state level, like those from the North American Lake Management Society, Hutton Fisheries Award, the Intel Excellence in Environmental health and Safety Award, and the Meteorological Society Award. However, she is also known internationally from the International Science and Engineering Fair where she placed third in the environmental category.

Her research has been published and spread throughout the world.

Although Welsh?s career working in the environment has been quite successful, she is also active at PHS. Welsh has been on the A honor roll, throughout her high school career, was selected for the National Honor Society and was named Junior Rotarian. Welsh is also a member of the track, cross country running and cross country ski teams where she was an All-Conference skier for both her team and herself. She also volunteers by teaching younger children how to ski.

As the busy life of Welsh continues, so do her achievements. From the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition in Denver, Colo., Welsh will attend the Water Environment Federation Annual Conference in October.