Although entry numbers were down, enthusiasm was high at the Oquirrh Hills Middle School Science Fair held Feb. 17. Usually the fair consists of up to 150 entries, but due to an illness in the faculty, only 46 projects were entered this year.
Each entry was provided by eighth and ninth grade students from the middle school. Entries were mandatory for all biology and Advanced Learning Placement for Students students. The entries ranged from studies on frying diodes to the use of magnets to create electricity.
One student even wrote his own computer program to simulate an ecosystem. Peter Johnston, an eighth grade student, has been writing computer programs since he was 10 years old. The project took him six to eight weeks to complete.
"I didn't quite get what I wanted, I would have like more out of the program," Peter said.
Nathan Peterson, also an eighth grade student, won a first place prize for his project on the effects of carbon dioxide in soil. He took several samples and even tested some volcanic rock. "I did it all by myself, except for the little help from the school for the supplies," Nathan said.
Caleb Walker, a ninth grade student, chose his project on magnets. The goal of his project was the design and construction of a magnet motor for power companies to produce electricity. "I did it because I was curious," Caleb said.
The first place winners include Dorothy VanKomen, Alexis Metcalf, Kaden Sumsion, Nicole Cox and Alexis Nelson, Hannah Hanks, Joseph Arotari, Zach Kelley, Chan Jorgensen, Sarah Hale and Leah Swett, Emma Wynn, Peter Johnston, Becka Olivares, Halah Kahn, and Nathan Peterson.
These students participated in the finals held at Riverton High School
The second place winners, also receiving a ribbon for their project, were Spencer Bauman, Kaitlynn Douglass, Gabrielle Hoyer, Tyler Larkin and Derek Smith, Caleb Walker, Jacqueline Robinson and Gabriela Wardle, Maddie Christensen, Austin Labonty, Terra Colbert, Megan Elliott, Isaac White, and Alisa Western and Jordyn Goodrich.
The winners were nominated by individual classes and then Barbara Gentry, a science specialist from the school district, chose the best. The ribbons were presented by Todd Monson, n eighth grade science teacher, and Kathi Byerline-Thayer, also an eighth grade science teacher.
"The judges said these were some of the best projects they've seen," Principal Michael Anderson said.
During the presentation of the award ribbon, Anderson
By Alisha Tondro for The South Valley
Published in March 2011 in Riverton , Utah
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