The school again has a strong showing in the regional fair at the University of Tennessee
Students at St. Mary School in Oak Ridge continued their tradition of success at the Southern Appalachian Science & Engineering Fair (SASEF).
The annual St. Mary School middle school science fair was held Feb. 18. Projects were divided into two categories, biological and physical sciences. Awards were determined by an expert panel of judges representing local civic organizations, industry, and educational entities. Fourteen St. Mary students received awards, making them eligible to compete at the regional SASEF at the University of Tennessee on April 5-7.
The SASEF is sponsored by UT and numerous local companies and agencies and draws students from 23 counties in East Tennessee. The goal of the fair is to promote teaching the scientific method in science, engineering, and math. Over the past 18 years, 13 St. Mary students have been named grand champion or reserve champion at SASEF.
Thirteen of the St. Mary science fair winners participated in this year’s SASEF and earned the following honors:
Overall Awards
■ Third place: Amelia Van Berkel, for her project, “Water, Water Everywhere, but Not a Single Drop to Drink”;
■ Third place: Catelyn Krings, “All the Buzz”;
■ Fourth place: Anna Kasemir, “World Wide Whisper”;
■ Fifth place: Ryan Rearden, “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
Certificates of Excellence: Jacqueline Audet , “Is That Cat Fat?”; Amelia Van Berkel, “Water, Water Everywhere, but Not a Single Drop to Drink”; Anna Kasemir, “World Wide Whisper”; Catelyn Krings, “All the Buzz”; Sydney Mesmer, “Earth Lovin’ Oven”; Ryan Rearden, “Do You Hear What I Hear?”; Ashlyn Riikola, “A Stomach’s Worst Enemy”; and Sarah Tackett, “Pearly Whites.”
Special Awards: Amelia Van Berkel, “Water, Water Everywhere, but Not a Single Drop to Drink,” Women in GeoSciences, NOAA Taking the Pulse of the Planet, NOAA Local Chapter award; Anna Kasemir, “World Wide Whisper,” Naval Science Award, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Award; and Jacqueline Audet, “Is That Cat Fat?” SASEF Committee Award
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Audet, “Speed Versus Mass”; Joseph Duhamel, “And the Eye Color Is?”; Mateo Gorrondona, “Can You Keep It a Little Warmer in Here”; and Paige Halcrow, “Bacteria Counts” ■
