KOKOMO, Ind. — Young scientists earned $3,000 in Indiana University Kokomo scholarships and awards Saturday (February 14) at the 62nd annual Howard County Science Fair.
Deb Jaworski, event chair and senior lecturer in mathematics, said the fair is a longstanding tradition, and gives students the chance to present and refine projects before the regional science fairs later this month.
“Some schools do not host their own science fairs now due to logistical constraints, so we give these students an opportunity to be interviewed and present their projects in advance,” she said, adding that each one is judged by six volunteers. “In the past, we have sent a good number of projects on to regional, state, and even international science fairs.”
Jaworski said participating in science fairs prepares students for college research, as they learn essential academic skills like forming a hypothesis, designing an experiment, testing, collecting data, presenting results, and thinking critically.
“A science fair project combines communication, science, math, writing, reading, research, and statistics proficiencies together,” she said. “They are building important skills which will carry them far in their future academics, careers, and lives.”
Senior division winner was Raiden Sandefur, Victory Christian Academy. His teacher is IU Kokomo alumna Hannah Sandefur. He received a $2,500 IU Kokomo scholarship, a $100 cash prize, and a medallion.
In the Junior division, top five winners, in alphabetical order, were Evelyn Buckmaster, Eastern Elementary School; Logan Dowden, Eastern Elementary School; Addison Kaser, Eastern Elementary School; Alec Kaser, Eastern Elementary School; and Stefan Ostler and Hayden Depoy, Western Middle School. Each received a $50 cash prize and a medallion.
Junior division winners in sixth to 10th place, in alphabetical order, were Cecilia Cramer, Eastern Middle School; Eli Faulkner and Isaac Bowers, Western Middle School; Aiden Gillam, Eastern Elementary School; Henry Reed, Eastern Elementary School; and Ezra Sommers, Eastern Elementary School. Each received a $30 cash prize and a medallion.
Teachers of the top junior division winners include Sarah Bonesteel, Eastern Elementary; Meg Lowman, Eastern Middle School; and Hannah Sandefur, Western Middle School.
The Howard County Science Fair committee includes faculty members Marcia Gillette, retired adjunct faculty member in chemistry; Chris Caruvana, associate professor of mathematics; Deb Jaworski, senior lecturer in mathematics; Hisako Masuda, professor of biochemistry; and Peter Tupa, senior lecturer in mathematics.
Judges included faculty members Tifany Burnett, adjunct faculty in mathematics; Patrick Motl, dean of the School of Science and professor of physics; and Amelia Tebbe, associate professor of mathematics. IUK alumni Olivia Terry, Sara Reel, and Hannah Sandefur also were judges, along with students Payden Bragg, Austin Burton, Nova Brittain, and Annastasia Hutchings.
Brandon Wysong, lecturer in biology, led a lab activity for the students.
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