Tina Fanelli earned a first-place trophy at the science fair.
The Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair (SASEF) took place last spring at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.
St. John Neumann School in Farragut was represented extremely well this year, and the students are directed by middle school science teacher Brett Shaffer.
This year’s Junior Division Grand Champion (first place overall) is SJNS sixth-grader Tina Fanelli. She was awarded with a trophy and $200 prize. Her environmental science project was titled: “Helping the Earth: Do-It- Yourself Bioplastics.” This year’s Junior Division Reserve Champion (second place overall) is SJNS sixth-grader Dmitri Kalinin. Dmitri was awarded with a trophy and $100 prize. His cellular and molecular biology project was titled “Salty, Sour, and Soapy Cells: Separately and Simultaneously.”
Five St. John Neumann sixth-graders were awarded Certificates of Excellence (first place in their category), which include a certificate and $25 prize. The students that received this achievement are Tina Fanelli (environmental science), Dmitri Kalinin (cellular and molecular biology), Ellen Falvey (earth and planetary science), Kate Pettinger (engineering: Materials and bioengineering), and Audrey Weaver (microbiology).
Dmitri Kalinin also received the Naval Science Award, which included a certificate, medal, and $25 prize from the U.S. Department of the Navy.
Three St. John Neumann sixth-graders received honorable mentions. They are Abbey Arnold, Mason Burkhardt, and Adriana Zablah.
