Vanguard High teacher wins 2014 Shell Science Lab Challenge

Candi Roy, left, talks with Galina Abdelaziz, 16, a junior, in the Biology III class during a lesson about heart rate at Vanguard High School in Ocala on Monday.

Two dozen students in Candi Roy's Biology III class checked heart rates Monday the old-fashioned ways: fingers on wrist, stethoscope, or both.

Last fall, the National Science Teachers Association announced the 2014 Shell Science Lab Challenge.

Hundreds of schools from the United States and Canada submitted applications in hopes of getting $20,000 in new lab equipment.

On Friday, Vanguard High teacher Candi Roy was presented the grand prize trophy and $20,000 to transform her classroom into a state-of-the-art lab.

Grand prize Vanguard High School Candace Roy, International Baccalaureate biology teacher

Finalists Northeast High School, Philadelphia eStem Public Charter School, Little Rock, Ark. Taos Middle School, Taos, N.M. Delta High School, Delta, Colo.

This lab assignment, part of the human anatomy and physiology chapter, required the students to compare the pulse before and after some type of physical exertion.

Students were given several activities to endure, everything from running up and down steps to changing seats.

Next year, students in this biology class will have a much easier time trying to register heart rates. They will be using high-dollar electronic hand grip heart rate monitors.

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Vanguard High teacher wins 2014 Shell Science Lab Challenge