 |
| Photo contributed by Laurie Sheehan Simone Michaud discusses her science project on air pollution with teachers Thomas Beckum and Dave Sterris during Woodland’s science fair on April 26. |
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
WOODLAND — Educators and spectators alike agree that it was a particularly impressive year for Woodland’s annual science fair.
Though competition was so excellent this year that winners were all merely one or two points apart, the academic victors were: eighth-grader Gunnar Bondeson in first place for his project on the biomechanics of pitching, sixth-grader Lane Moir in second place for his project on potato storage, eighth-grader Joshua McCormack in third place for his project on the Van de Graaff Generator, eighth-grader Adrianna Bither in fourth place with her tennis ball launcher project, and seventh-grader Simone Michaud in fifth-place for her project on the effects of air pollution.
Honorable Mentions went to sixth-grader Candace Lane for her project on drug effects, seventh-grader Meghan Cole for her project on ice or heat (to treat back pain) and eighth-grader Brandon Whitmore for his project on rocketry.
Science Fair organizer Sandy Swan, the school’s sixth-grade teacher, said that this year’s scientific event was beyond excellent, “It was amazing.”
“We had all sorts of original topics — we even had a sixth-grader make his own invention,” Swan described.
Historically, judges will usually see one or two of the same topics a few times — but not this year, as students impressed the fair’s officials and each other with their creativity and scientific skill.
“I would not have wanted to be one of the judges,” Swan said.
Consensus of the student participants was that they had fun making their projects and enjoyed seeing what their friends came up with.
Photo contributed by Laurie Sheehan
Participants had hot and cold reactions to Meghan Cole’s entry in Woodland’s science fair — depending on whether they were holding the homemade ice pack or heating pad.
Photo contributed by Laurie Sheehan
Eighth-grader Josh McCormack explains his science project on the Van De Graff Generator to science fair judge Cindy Noyes.
Photo contributed by Laurie Sheehan
Students really got into Woodland’s Science Fair on April 26, particularly when learning about Adia Greer’s Camera Obscura science project — as Brandon Manter is shown here observing.
