Calling from Washington, D.C., immediately after learning that she had claimed the Intel Science Talent Search top honor Tuesday night, the 18-year-old American Fork High School senior said her study of the water quality of the Spanish Fork River System took five years and amassed more than 2,000 pieces of data.

"I knew I wanted to study something that would be useful for the community," Babb said.

Her project, which sought to identify water-quality problems along the Spanish Fork River and its tributaries, concluded that humans, through a variety of urban and agricultural factors, have a negative effect on the water quality of the river.

Her study suggested a combination of restructuring the river system and implementing public-education programs that would warn people against pouring household chemicals down storm drains.

"I looked at this contest as a really interesting opportunity, so I thought I'd try. I guess it paid off," Babb said.

Babb said she plans to attend Utah State University in the fall to study hydrology as part of the watershed and earth systems major.

"I have had so much fun with this project I want to keep doing it because I feel I can make a difference doing it," she said.

Yi Sun, 17, of the Harker School in San Jose, Calif., won $75,000 for second place; and Yuan Zhang, 17, of Montgomery Blair High School in Rockville, Md., received $50,000 for third place.

The 37 other finalists each received between $5,000 and $25,000 for their projects.

mwestley@sltrib.com

“I looked at this contest as a really interesting opportunity, so I thought I'd try. I guess it paid off. . . . I have had so much fun with this project I want to keep doing it because I feel I can make a difference doing it.”

SHANNON BABB

Winner of the Intel Science Talent Search top honor

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