Science fair covers oil spills to lima beans
New Prague middle and high school students participated in the Thursday, Dec. 13, Science Fair. Held at New Prague Middle School projects ranged from oil spills to wind power.
Jodi Prchal, organizer of the annual event and a fifth grade teacher at Falcon Ridge Elementary School in New Prague, explained the students were judged on their projects through a variety of questions. New Prague Area Community Education sponsored the event with director Amy Eich helping with the program.
Receiving purple ribbons with their projects were: Julianne Pankow, sixth grade – What bathroom product bleaches out towel material?
Anna Prchal, sixth grade - Kill the Spill… Which material works best to clean up oil spills?
Vicky Erickson, eighth grade - Wind!
Receiving blue ribbons were:
Stacy Erickson, 11th grade - Household Fertilizer
Iris McCarthy, sixth grade - Diaper Strong!
Hannah Schoenbauer, seventh grade - Which Mouth is Cleaner? A dog or human?
Bailey Rodrique, sixth grade - Which liquid can lima beans grow in?
Advancing to the Science and Engineering Fair at Minnesota State University, Mankato on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, are Pankow, Erickson, Anna Prchal, Erickson and Schoenbauer.
Jodi Prchal said some high school projects that are still being worked on that will also advance to regions include:
Trina Blaschko, ninth grade - Mints used to increase test scores
Brian Prchal, 10th grade - Gear Ratios and Blade Design in Wind Turbines
Rena Weis, 12th grade - Biochar and Zea Mays Continuation
Katie Morris, 12th grade - Bacteria and Bleach Continuation.
Judges included area residents Brent Quast of Roundbank, Lori Hodapp-Betterton of the Minnesota State Patrol, Andy Velishek of Child’s Play Theatre, Tara Barth of Minnesota Eye Consultants and Kelly Ashley of Mayo Clinic Health System of New Prague. Also judging were New Prague High School National Honor Society members Nicole Mc- Queen, Jackie Schoenecker, Madison Schwartz, Anna Menne, Carly Ploumen, Emma Zvanovec and Rena Weis.
