Dos Pueblos High School freshman James Roney won first place in the science component of the Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering Rising Stars) competition, which featured science fair winners from across the United States. For his winning project — completed for Kim Miller’s 8th grade science class last year at Goleta Valley Junior High — Roney investigated how ants communicate the amount of sugar in food sources. Roney traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet President Obama along with the other finalists, an experience he said he’ll never forget. Roney added he became interested in ants from reading science fiction; he plans to go into the field of life sciences or engineering. Roney received $500 in cash, $3,500 for a STEM summer camp, an iPad, and $1,000 for Goleta Valley Jr. High to support science programs.