Frankfort, IN. (WLFI) – Five students from the Community Schools of Frankfort competed at the Hoosier State Science and Engineering Fair this past weekend in Indianapolis.
The students’ projects were selected at the regional competition to advance to the state level and covered a wide range of topics.
Blue Sky Carreras Lantigua, a fifth grader, tested how different materials affect friction. Cristal Cruz, an eighth grader, studied how bilingualism impacts the brain’s ability to switch between tasks. Myles Freeman, a seventh grader, looked at how pressure affects the speed of a chemical reaction. Natalie Hodgen, an eighth grader, explored how temperature changes affect the amount of a substance needed to complete a chemical reaction. Ellis Shaffer, a seventh grader, analyzed how altitude impacts fatigue in professional basketball.
Three of the Frankfort students earned special recognition at the state competition.
Myles Freeman received the Best Use of Physics Award from the American Association of Physics Teachers.
Cristal Cruz was recognized for Best Implementation of STEM Principles for a Topic Relevant to Minority Populations by the National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers.
Ellis Shaffer earned the Most Innovative Research Award from the Office of Naval Research for the U.S. Navy.
The Hoosier State Science and Engineering Fair brings together top projects from across the state, making it a highly competitive event.