STUDENTS COMPETE IN SCIENCE FAIR

Minnesota State University, Mankato which has been hosting a science and engineering fair since 1951, recently held the 64th Southern Minnesota Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Saturday, April 25th, 2015. Mr. Jimmy Thorne served as interim director for the fair this year. Beth Rorvig organized the event as the K-12 outreach coordinator. 

Local students from Lester Prairie and Holy Trinity in Winsted competed against over 900 students in grades 3 through 6 as rows of display boards filled the track in Myers Field House. The fair had 106 schools participate. 

The judges, who are scientists, engineers, doctors, teachers, and other people with an interest in science or engineering, award the students ribbons from four different tiers. The top tier being purple, then blue, red and lastly green.

Some student exhibits focused on hobbies or sports and others explored educational issues. They either use the scientific or engineering method for their project. All exhibits were entered in the categories of animal science, behavioral and social sciences, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry and biochemistry, computer science, earth and planetary sciences, energy and transportation, engineering, environmental management, environmental science, family consumer science, mathematical sciences, medicine, health sciences and human performance, microbiology, physics and astronomy, and plant sciences. 

Lester Prairie students placed as follows:

Delaney Sebora (5^th Gr) earned a 1^st place purple ribbon and a Thin Film Scholar Award for an Exceptional Project for her project on Stress & Heat in the Health/Medicine/Human Performance category.  Delaney is the daughter of Marc and Jennifer Sebora.

Alexis Kubista (6^th Gr.) earned a 1^st place purple ribbon for her project on Taste Testing Brand Name Soda and Soda Stream Soda in the Family Consumer Science category.  Alexis is the daughter of Raymond and Tabatha Kubista.

Josie Tonn (4^th Gr.) earned a 2^nd place blue ribbon for her project on Gummy Bear Science in the Chemistry category.  Josie is the daughter of Matt and Melissa Tonn.

After ribbons were awarded, the students earning top-tier honors were up for 1^st Place trophies, 2^nd Place medals, and 3^rd Place medals.  Unfortunately, none of the Lester Prairie students earned these top awards.  But, based on the number of participants, our school and community should be very proud of Delaney, Alexis, and Josie for their hard work and accomplishments.