Newton named Grand Champion at SSTFI event

AMES, Iowa – On March 27 and 28, more than 740 middle and high school students from across Iowa showcased their scientific talents at the 68th annual State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa (SSTFI) in Ames. With 630 projects presented by students representing over 65 schools, the competition was fierce. Among them, Central Lee Middle School stood out with an impressive 52 students competing with 39 projects.
The young scientists from Central Lee delivered an outstanding performance, bringing home numerous awards and accolades. Their success led to the school winning the most prestigious award of the event – the Claison “Clay” Groff Traveling Memorial Trophy. This award is given to the Most Outstanding Middle School Science Fair Program in the State of Iowa, a testament to Central Lee’s commitment to excellence in scientific inquiry and innovation.
In addition to the school’s overall achievement, two Central Lee projects earned the highest honors in the entire middle school competition. Drake Newton was named the SSTFI Grand Champion, securing 1st place among all middle school participants. Meanwhile, the dynamic team of Lily Jacobs and Zoey Jones earned the title of SSTFI Grand Reserve Champions, placing 2nd in the overall middle school competition.
The remarkable success of Central Lee Middle School at the SSTFI reflects the dedication, hard work, and passion of both students and educators. Their achievements highlight the school’s commitment to fostering a strong culture of scientific exploration and innovation.
Those earning awards at the science fair include:
6th Grade
Aiden McDowell : Which Bait is Best?
SSTFI 6th Grade Biological Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificate
|SSTFI 6th Grade Animal Science, 1st Place - Blue Ribbon
Thermo Fisher Top 10% - Application
Tessa Cale : Does Colostrum Aid in Weight Gain?
SSTFI 6th Grade Biological Seminar, 1st Place - Certificate/$75
SSTFI 6th Grade Animal Science, 2nd Place - Red Ribbon
Talon Boyer: Does An Automatic Waterer Work For Your Plants?
SSTFI 6th Grade Plant Science, 3rd Place - White Ribbon
Makayla Newberry: What Material Keeps Things Warm the Longest?
SSTFI 6th Grade Physical Seminar, 1st Place - Certificate/$50
Rylee Britton  : Are Fingerprints Inherited?
SSTFI 6th Grade Behavioral & Social Science, 1st Place - Blue Ribbon
Thermo Fisher Top 10% - Application
7th Grade
Riley Edens: Well, Well, Well...What Do We Have Here?
SSTFI 7th Grade Physical Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Earth & Environmental Science, 2nd Place - Red Ribbon
Isaac Edens: Tomato Plant Response to Mechanical Stimulation
SSTFI 7th Grade Biological Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Plant Science, 2nd Place - Red Ribbon
Thermo Fisher Top 10%  - Application
Mason Longenecker: Do Screens Affect Your Heart Rate?
SSTFI 7th Grade Biomedical & Health, 2nd Place - Red Ribbon
Savannah Overton             Bacteria Growth Under Different Colored Lights
SSTFI 7th Grade Biological Seminar, 2nd Place - Certificate/$50
SSTFI 7th Grade Microbiology, 1st Place - Blue Ribbon
SSTFI 7th Grade Microbiology, Overall JH Category Winner
Thermo Fisher Top 10% - Application
Laney Moore: Improving Water Choices
Environmental Excellence, Harvestville  - Certificate/$50
SSTFI 7th Grade Earth & Environmental Science, 1st Place - Blue Ribbon
Thermo Fisher Top 10% - Application
Aralind Grafton: Illuminating Electrolytes 
 U.S. Metric Award  - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Physical Seminar, 3rd Place  - Certificate/$25
SSTFI 7th Grade Chemistry, 2nd Place  - Red Ribbon
Thermo Fisher Top 10%  - Application
Brooklyn Rudd : Adults VS Kids!!
SSTFI 7th Grade Behavioral & Social Science, HM - Pink Ribbon
Ross Lindner : Micronutrients on Alfalfa: How Much Do You Need for Higher Yield and Feed Value?
SSTFI 7th Grade Plant Science, 1st Place - Blue Ribbon
Thermo Fisher Top 10%  - Application
Jake Eid & Kanon Sanders: Do Sports Help With Humans Reaction Time?
Gatorade Sports Science Innovation Award - Water Bottles, Certificates
Derrick Gruntmeir      Elastic Energy Phase 2
SSTFI 7th Grade Physical Seminar, Honorable Mention  - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Mathematics, 2nd Place - Red Ribbon
McKenna Fransk: Does Gender Affect Delayed Gratification?
SSTFI American Association of Psychology Award  - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Biological Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Behavioral & Social Science, HM - Pink Ribbon
Thermo Fisher Top 10% - Application
Drake Newton: Footstrike Analysis Using a 3-D Printed Insole
IJAS Outstanding Research  - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Physical Seminar, 1st Place  - Certificate/$75
SSTFI 7th Grade Engineering, 1st Place  - Blue Ribbon
SSTFI 7th Grade Engineering, - Overall JH Category Winner
Thermo Fisher Top 10% - Application
SSTFI Grand Champion (1st Place)  - Plaque/$100
Madison Koller: Battle of the Bottles
SSTFI 7th Grade Physical Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Physics & Astronomy, 2nd Place  - Red Ribbon
Evan Frueh: Can Humans Detect AI Generated Text?
SSTFI 7th Grade Biological Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Technology Integrated in the Arts - 3rd PL- White Ribbon
Lily Jacobs & Zoey Jones: No Fly Ash, No Problem
SSTFI 7th Grade Physical Seminar, 2nd Place  - Certificate/$50
SSTFI 7th Grade Energy & Transportation, 1st Place - Blue Ribbons
Thermo Fisher Top 10% - Application
SSTFI Grand Reserve Champion (2nd Place) - Medallions/$75
Madelyn Kieler: Thermal Energy Absorption
SCC Physical Science Award - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Physics & Astronomy, 1st Place - Blue Ribbon
SSTFI 7th Grade Physics & Astronomy - Overall JH Category Winner
Thermo Fisher Top 10% - Application
Addalie Daly: Can The Nutritional Value of Eggs Be Altered?
Schneider Seed & Cattle Awar - Certificate
IJAS Outstanding Research - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Biological Seminar, 1st Place  - Certificate/$75
SSTFI 7th Grade Animal Science, 2nd Place  - Red Ribbon
Thermo Fisher Top 10%  - Application
Charley Jones: Does Color Affect Memory?
SSTFI 7th Grade Behavioral & Social Science, HM - Pink Ribbon
Olivia Umthun: Does Fertilizer Change How Tomato Plants Grow?
SSTFI 7th Grade Biological Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificate
SSTFI 7th Grade Plant Science, 3rd Place - White Ribbon
|Thermo Fisher Top 10%  - Application
Elise Andrews & Anna Loges: Central Lee Germs
SSTFI 8th Grade Cellular & Molecular Biology, HM - Pink Ribbons
8th Grade
McKenzie Daly & Madison Frueh: Algae Overload
SSTFI 8th Grade Biological Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificate
Ruby Larson & Kaitlyn Morrison : Caffeine and Heart Rate: A Pharmacological Study Using Daphnia magna
SSTFI 8th Grade Biological Seminar, 2nd Place - Certificate/$50
Kaylee Stark & Brylee Cook: Fighting Back: Understanding Antibiotic Treatment in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis
SSTFI 8th Grade Biological Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificate
SSTFI 8th Grade Microbiology, 1st Place   - Blue Ribbon
Kaylee Moeller        Fertilizer's Influence on Plant Growth
Schneider Seed & Cattle Award  - Certificate
SSTFI 8th Grade Biological Seminar, 1st Place  - Certificate/$75
SSTFI 8th Grade Plant Science, 2nd Place  - Red Ribbon
Thermo Fisher Top 10%  - Application
Annamae Timpe     How is Lung Capacity Affected by Age?
SSTFI 8th Grade Behavioral & Social Science, HM - Pink Ribbon
Alissa Fraise & Molina McKnight          Light of Luminol
SSTFI 8th Grade Biochemistry, 2nd Place - Blue Ribbons
Adalyn Dill & Charli Day              Filtration Methods
SSTFI 8th Grade Physical Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificates
Artem Kuznetsov & Axton Dohman: Bridging the Gap: Engineering Strong Model Bridges
SSTFI 8th Grade Physical Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificates
SSTFI 8th Grade Engineering, Honorable Mention - Pink Ribbons
Grahm Van Ausdall & Colton Haigh : Precision Points: Measuring The Impact. of Broadhead Designs
SSTFI 8th Grade Physical Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificates
SSTFI 8th Grade Physics & Astronomy, 3rd Place - White Ribbons
Kylie Helenthal & Alayna Riley: Disinfectant Dilemmas
SSTFI 8th Grade Biological Seminar, Honorable Mention - Certificates
SSTFI 8th Grade Microbiology, 2nd Place - Red Ribbons