WEST POINT - Sixty-five projects were laid out in front of judges and parents in the old Holy Trinity Catholic gymnasium Wednesday night.
The projects were the brainchild of a wide array of students from fifth to eighth grade, and even a junior in high school.
This year's annual Holy Trinity Catholic Science Fair was a bit different as Science Fair coordinator Ernie Schiller challenged students to think a little outside the box, but within the scientific formula.
"I think this is the biggest group we've had," Schiller said.
"I was impressed with how I gave them a challenge and they really ran with it."
One of the most outside the box projects was by Evan Pauly, who tested four rooms in a house to see which room was actually the "dirtiest".
Not because hiss bedroom was really messy, but because he was helping clean the bathroom and realized some of the really nasty stuff can’t be seen.
“We were cleaning our bathroom and you really couldn’t see the dirt, but then we had these rags that were all grimy. It hit me that even though don’t see it, there’s a lot of ick there,” Pauly said.
So the 6th grader tested the bacteria with agar to see which swabs from four different rooms in his home had the most bacteria.
The result is not what you’d think.
“I hypothesized it would be the kitchen and I was right. People would think it’s the bathroom because they see the dirt there and what the room is used for,” he said.
“But they think the kitchen is cleaner because that’s where we cook. When in actuality it’s the other way around.”
Pauly also said that the dining room is a dirtier room than the living room, which was also born out by the study.
Schiller said the science fair, which also doubled as a soup supper fundraiser, helped defray costs of the students who advance to regional and state science fairs.
“I had about six moms step up to help with the event and boosters come forward to help put this on. It’s been one of our biggest fairs and it also helps raise some money.”
Other projects included how to tell if someone might be lying taken up by Caleb Dinwiddie in his Pinnochio’s Arm – A Lie Detector, a look at Turkey Tail mushrooms by Ezra Graber, Real Honey vs. Fake (Store) Honey by Malani Roach, Anna Rempe, and Greyson Rhoades, all 5th graders.
Awards presented Wednesday night included:
NRCS- Conservation Awards- Sponsored by Lee County Conservation
Middle School- 26 awards
Jr/Sr High- 10 awards
Alan Adams- Inspiring Excellence Awards ($20 and Certificate)
1. Madisyn Griffin.
2. Maddy Kieler
3. Brynn Denning
4. Beau Berry
5. Emma Menke
6. Chase Menke
7. Jack Ragar
8. Lydia Behne
9. Brooklyn Todd
10. Elizabeth Griffin
Best Board Display
Nolan Peitz, Cooper Barnes, Reid Schmitt
Best Use of Photos
Elizabeth Griffin
Best Presentation
Brooklyn Forsythe
Best Notebook
Brooklyn Todd
Menke And Co- Excellence In Data Analysis ($50 each)
1. Brookly Todd
2. Emma Menke
3. Chase Menke
4. David Vradenburg
5. Brooklyn Forsythe
6. Morgan Krogmeier
7. Ellie Hellman
8. Jack Ragar
9. Savannah Overton, Claudia Boyles, Bailey Krogmeier ($20 per student)
10. Liam Drollinger, Sam Schmitz, Chase Ellison ($20 per student)
5th Grade- Group results
3rd Place- Ruby Steffensmeier, Brady Adams, Kate Pieper
2nd Place- Malani Roach, Anna Rempe, Greyson, Rhoades
1st Place- Savannah Overton, Bailey Krogmeier, Claudia Boyles
6th Grade-
3rd- Brooklyn Forsythe
2nd- Jack Ragar
1st- Zane Houtz
7th Grade-
3rd- Morgan Krogmeier, David Vradenburg
2nd- Chase Menke
1st- Emma Menke
8th Grade-
3rd- Brooklyn Todd
2nd- Elizabeth Griffin
1st- Ellie Hellman
High School-
1st- Marybeth Scheetz
Merschman Seeds- Excellence in Science Research ($50 each)
Jr/Sr High (7-12)
3. Chase Menke
2. Ellie Hellman
1. Emma Menke
Middle School (5-6)
3. Savannah Overton, Bailey Krogmeier, Claudia Boyles
2. Jack Ragar
1. Zane Houtz
Pilot Grove Savings Bank- $100 Savings Bond or $100 cash
Top 4 Scores Overall
4. Zane Houtz
3. Chase Menke
2. Ellie Hellman
1. Emma Menke
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