Mrs. Wonders Announces State Science Fair Results!
Nine students’ Science Fair projects from Delavan Schools were selected to represent the Illinois Junior Academy of Science Region One at the State Science Fair held Saturday, May 4th at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall in Champaign-Urbana. Seventh Graders Alyssa Turner and Abby Garret ; eighth graders Abigail Rademaker, Geoffrey Diver and Logan Darling; and twelfth graders Daniel Long , Marissa Rademaker, Madalynn Carr, and Hope Kensinger displayed their projects at the State Fair, along with 1020 additional projects from around the state. In the category of Botany, Madalynn Carr and Hope Kensinger’s project entitled May the Force be With you, Part II, explored the effects that electromagnetic forces had on the germination of corn infected with the mold aflatoxin. Their project received a First Place Award. In the category of Behavioral Science, Abigail Rademaker’s project entitled Memory Wars tested the effects of using visual and auditory memory techniques to improve study habits in Junior High Aged Students also received a First. Also in Behavioral Science, Daniel Long and Marissa Rademaker’s project entitled Liar Liar Face on Fire, Part II, explored the use of a thermal imaging camera directed toward the area around the eyes as a non-invasive method of determining whether a subject was telling the truth or not, thereby replacing the polygraph machine in law enforcement. Their project received an Outstanding Award. In the category of Earth Science, Alyssa Turner’s project entitled There’s a Fungus Among Us, looked at which of four variables will increase fungal decomposition of wood, and it earned a First Place Award. Also receiving a First Place award in the category of Environmental Science, Geoffrey Diver and Logan Darling with their project entitled Wind Power, explored the effects of blade length and pitch on the generation of wind energy. Abby Garrett’s project from the category of Microbiology, explored the anti-bacterial effects of common household spices on the bacteria E. coli and received a First. Marissa and Dan also won Top In Category Award Senior Division, and Dan was awarded a $1000.00 Schroeder Wetzel Scholarship. These student’s projects were the top scoring from the 150 projects exhibited at the Regional Science Fair, held March 23rd at Western Illinois University, in Macomb.
Also exhibiting at the IJAS Regional Science Fair in March, were Sixth Graders Parker Griffin, Alexandra Cowling, and Kayleigh Lewis; Seventh Graders Gabrielle Mutchler, Zachary Davis, Shelby Bontemps, Reka Jeckel, Skyler Hungerford, Carter Summers, Brandon Marshall, Austin Sundell, Tollin Johnson, Cassiday Cooper, and Joseph Matthews; Eighth graders Adrianna Summers, Noah Jeckel and Justin Sieh; Eleventh Graders Justine Horn and Jessica Vick; and Twelfth Graders Zonna Swingle and Dakota Carter. Delavan Students took home 7 Outstanding Awards, 13 First Place Awards, 2 Second Place and 1 Third place Awards at the Regional Fair. Additionally, Dan Long and Marissa Rademaker won the Top Life Science Award from the US Army and the US Metric Association Award; Dakota Carter won the top Physics award from the US Army; Abby Garrett won the Top Award from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Madalynn Carr and Hope Kensinger won the Mu Alpha Theta Award; and Abigail Rademaker won the American Psychological Association Award at the Regional Fairat Western. Adrianna Summers, Alyssa Turner, and Abby Garrett were selected to enter their projects online at the Boradcom Masters Competition, where they may win an all-expense paid trip to Washington DC. The Science Department at Delavan Schools consists of Jake Stewart, Savannah Douglas, Stacy Nannen, Sanish Carr, and Mary Kay Wonders.
