Science fairs are held throughout the diocese

SALT LAKE CITY — The 11th Annual Knights of Columbus Diocesan Science Fair was held at Blessed Sacrament School March 3. More than 180 students from around the state earned their way to the event by winning their school-based science fairs.

Knight of Columbus Andy Airriess, from St. Martin de Porres Parish, said the students were competing for trophies and more than $2,000 in prizes donated by individual Knights and Knights of Columbus councils.

Airriess said the gym at Blessed Sacrament School, Sandy, was full of models, colorful diagrams, exhibits, nervous parents, and excited students as more than 50 judges made their way among the rows of physical, medical/behavioral, biological, earth, engineering, and environmental science displays.

Each student explained his or her hypothesis, method of experiment, results, and conclusion of the project to the four judges assigned to grade their entries in the preliminary round. Additional judging was required to break ties.

After 69 ribbons were awarded to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students, the trophies for the winners of the various categories were announced by Knights of Columbus State Deputy Charles Dover, Jr.

According to Airriess, the Young Scientist trophy and a two hundred dollar Savings Bond were awarded to Grace Best-Devereux from the Madeleine Choir School, Salt Lake City. Devereaux also received the Overall Seventh Grade and Overall Behavioral Science awards.

The Space and Aeronautics trophy and a two hundred dollar Savings Bond were awarded to Paco Juarez from St. Francis Xavier Regional School, Kearns, who also won a telescope for being named Astronomer of the Year.

Teeny Ronquillo, St. Francis Xavier Regional School sixth grade and middle school teacher, won the grand prize trophy of Science Teacher of the Year award for the third consecutive year.

Airriess reported other winners included: Overall Sixth Grade to Morgan Clayton, St. Francis Xavier; Overall eighth Grade to Rima McComas, J. E. Cosgriff Memorial School, Salt Lake City; Overall Physical Sciences to Jacob Allen and Alex Gonce, St. Francis Xavier School; Overall Earth Science, Morgan Clayton, St. Francis Xavier; and Overall Engineering Science to John Kearns, J. E. Cosgriff Memorial School.

Best Use of Mathematics was awarded to Colton Murphy, St. Joseph Middle School, Ogden; Best Oral Presentation went to Ryan McMahon, J. E. Cosgriff Memorial School; and Most Unique Visual Display was awarded to Jennifer Schilling, Kearns-St. Ann School, Salt Lake City.

Airriess said in the beginning awards were given in only seven categories to participants from a few schools. The Knights of Columbus Diocesan science fair has grown into a statewide event with nearly two dozen awards attracting hundreds of participants from Catholic schools in the diocese.

Our Lady of Lourdes School, Salt Lake City, held their annual History, Science, and Writing Fair May 2.

The sixth grade class participated in the History Fair. Sixth grade teacher Mary Thomas said the students chose a historical character of their choice. Their research included the character’s historical significance and impact on the period of time he or she was alive. Students prepared a five-page report including events of the time period, costumes, and used creative props and visual aides to relate their character’s story to the school and the judges.

Sixth-grader Cathryn Hunt chose Martin Luther King, Jr., because he changed the laws to help African-Americans and he cared about people.

The seventh grade class participated in the Writing Fair. Seventh grade teacher Leah Walton said the students picked a favorite author or poet and researched their lives in order to prepare a report. The students then wrote poems, chapters, or a haiku in the character’s writing or literary style.

Seventh-grader Sydney Richards chose Lance Armstrong because she is inspired by his many achievements.

David Berg, eighth grad teacher said his class participated in the Science Fair. They began researching their topics last December. In January, the students received packets outlining each step of the scientific process, selecting topics, coming up with questions, deciding what kind of experiment to run, and how to evaluate their data. Students wrote papers, formulated questions and designed an experiment, which included a discussion of their results and their conclusions.

Rachel McKinlay, an eighth grader, conducted an experiment on laundry detergent by comparing the cost of the soap to how well it cleaned. She concluded the more expensive soaps are worth the cost.