Maranatha Christian School hosted its second annual science fair on Friday, Feb. 17 and followed it up in the evening with an open house with tours of the school.
Judges for the fair included special guests from businesses and Thompson Rivers University, says event co-ordinator Mandie Blusson.
Elementary level judges were Scott Klingmann from Gibraltar Mine, Debbie Skinner from Evangelical Free Church, and Dr. Chris Montoya from Thompson Rivers University.
Secondary judges were Marten Lettinga and John Salvatore from TRU and Katelyn Zhou, a recent graduate of the Bachelors of Science program at UBC Vancouver.
Blusson says Gibraltar Mine helped to sponsor the event and Shel Myers at TRU provided the use of his lab for students to use petri dishes to grow bacteria. At last year’s science fair Martin Lettinga also provided the students the use of his lab to make Hot Ice.
Maranatha Science Fair winners were proclaimed in the following categories.
Kindergarten to Grade 3
First: Kira Wehlen-Oliver; Are We There Yet. Second: Alexis McComber; How to Attract Birds in Winter. Third: Jacob Champagne; Polymers.
Grade 4 to Grade 7
First: Mikaela Martin; I Spy Frustration. Second: Daniel Daugherty and Samantha Martin; Germaphobes Beware. Third: Mitchell Blusson and Brad Cramer; Walking on Water.
Grade 8 to Grade 10
First: Carly Lange; A Field You Can’t Harvest. Second: Deidre Everard and Micheala Froese; Corroding Metals. Third: Mikayla Blusson; Let There be Light.
Primary, junior and secondary scientist awards were presented to participants based on their enthusiasm for their project, their interaction with the judges and their overall knowledge of their project.
Primary Scientist: Ayla Doering. Junior Scientist: Madison Blusson and Megan Cramer. Senior Scientist: Garrett Shephard.
The following students will be heading to the District Science Fair in 100 Mile House on March 8 based on their overall score for the district categories of Novice (grades 4-6), Junior (grades 7-8), Intermediate (grades 9-10), and Senior (grades 11-12).
Daniel Daugherty and Samantha Martin: Germaphobes Beware.
Mitchell Blusson and Brad Cramer: Walking on Water.
Abby James and Brooklyn Laukkanen: How Accurate Are Gas Pumps.
Mikaela Martin: I Spy Frustration.
Naudia Klaue: Center of Gravity.
Daymond Godbout and Micah Vogt: Sand vs Sound.
Carly Lange: A Field You Can’t Harvest.
Deidre Everard and Micheala Froese: Corroding Metals.
Mikayla Blusson: Let There be Light.
Winners at the district science fair will have the opportunity to participate in the regional science fair in Kamloops on April 12-13.