The students will be presented their awards at Lewiston High School’s “Night of Excellence” on June 4.
LEWISTON – Thirty Lewiston High School students will be honored for their work on a dozen projects entered in the high school’s fourth annual Science Fair on May 8.
Medals, plaques and cash awards totaling around $1,200 will be presented to outstanding science fair presenters at the high school’s “Night of Excellence” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, in the high school gym, East Avenue.
Organizers estimate that some 800 students undertook nearly 400 projects for this year’s fair. Eighty-three judges from the high school, Bates College and local businesses assessed the projects in two rounds of judging.
“The science fair has become a central part of our science curriculum,” said science department head Michael Hutchins, who established the event in 2000. “It’s the first true science our students get.”
The award for “Best in Show” will go to 10th-graders Kelly Jackson and Abbie Roy for a project titled “Springtime Thaw: Dissolved Oxygen Levels.” Cash awards will go to Jackson and Roy and to students placing first, second and third in each of three grade levels — ninth, 10th and combined 11th-12th grades.
Students not placing in the top 10 but demonstrating significant effort and knowledge will be presented plaques and medals.
The fair is presented by the high school each year with assistance from the Center for Service-Learning at Bates College, support from a Bates Science Education Outreach Grant funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and participation of Bates students, staff and faculty judges. Local businesses also send judges.
All ninth- and 10th-graders are required to do a science project, and upper-class students take part as required in specific courses.
Sue Martin of the Center for Service-Learning, which has participated in the fair since its inception, said she and the high school faculty have seen marked improvements in the quality of the projects over time.
The Bates students who help judge the fair also get an educational benefit, especially those studying science and education, she said.
Winners are as follows:
Grade nine: first, James Morin and Toby Porior, “Drowning in Advertising”; second, Thimitrios Andoniades, “Paper Clip Round Up”; third, Jason Robostelli, “Project Milfoil”; honorable mention, Mina Moore, “Length of Afterimages.”
Grade 10: first, Crystal Magoon and Anthony Skelton, “Is Hydroponics the Answer?”; second, Isla Hansen, “Comparing Freezing Temperatures: Which Juice Freezes First?”; third, Stephane Blanchette, “Which Water Grows Plants the Best?”.
Grades 11-12: first, Lyndsay Blais (grade 12) and Desiree Douglas (12), “End-Stage Renal Failure: Leading Causes”; second, Stacy Cloutier (11) and Sherri Brant (11), “How Does Exercise Affect Blood Pressure?”; third, Amanda Bergeron (11) and Stephanie Jacques (11), “The Sense of Smell As It Relates to Pulse”; honorable mention, Joe Lee (11), “Mechanics of the Foul Shot.”
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