SIDNEY — Nineteen Lehman Catholic High School students participated in the 2016 Upper Miami Valley District Science Day at Edison Community College Feb. 27 and six of those students brought home superior ratings, qualifying them to move on to the State Science Day. The students had qualified for District by earning a superior rating at the Lehman Science Fair on Feb. 3.

Junior Megan Neumeier was the top Lehman winner of the day, receiving a perfect score of 40 on her Medicine and Health project titled “The Effects of Lactase Supplements on Lactose.” In addition to her superior rating, Neumeier received the Premier Health Award for Medicine and Health ($50), the Upper Miami Valley Science Day Top Category Award in Medicine and Health (Trophy and $50), and an Edison Community College Scholarship. Neumeier is the daughter of Sam and Mary Neumeier of Troy.

Freshman Jacquie Schemmel also received a perfect score of 40 for her Environmental Science project titled “How Does Light Affect the Bioluminescences of Pyrocystis Fusiformis?” Schemmel is the daughter of Bill and Alicia Schemmel of New Bremen.

Other Lehman students receiving superior ratings were freshman Alex Gleason for his Physics project (“The Diamagnetism of Soluted Water”), senior Caroline Heitmeyer for her Chemistry project (“Which Oil has the Greatest Saturated Fat Content?), sophomore Meaghan McDonald for her Behavioral and Social Science project (“High Frequencies”), and freshman Brieanna Werling for her Behavioral and Social Science project (“Shaping Your Thoughts”).

Lehman students receiving excellent ratings at the District Fair were freshman Allison Bornhorst (“Which Primary Color Provides the Most Abundant Algae Population?), senior Nate Bosway (“What Type of Foreign Flora can Thrive in the Human Stomach?), freshman Rachel Bosway (“Electromagnetic Radiation: Can It Harm Us?), freshman Kiara Burns (“Measuring Heat Loss using Oranges”), and freshman Sarah Gibson (“Which Surface Type does Dry Ice Sublime Fastest On?”).

Also receiving excellent ratings were freshman Cole Gilardi (“The Effects of Caffeine and Coffee Grounds on Plant Growth”), sophomore Max Hamlin (“Roofing Efficiency”), freshman Madison Hurley (“Blue Light vs. a Good Night’s Sleep”), sophomore Lauren Larger (“The Effect of Chemicals on the Coagulation of Blood”), freshman Grace Monnin (“The Greenhouse Effect”), senior Nick Neumeier (“The Buffering Capacity of Different Soil Compositions”), freshman Ann Pannapara (“The Effect of Burned Soil on Seed Germination”), and senior Ana Vazquez (“The Effects of Energy Drinks on the Human Body”).

This was the first year for the Upper Miami Valley District Science Day as the new district was created in 2016 for students in Miami, Darke, Shelby, and Champaign Counties. Previously, students in those four counties competed in the Dayton district, but the event had gotten so large (over 400 projects last year) that it was decided to create a new district.

The District Science Day is affiliated with the Ohio Academy of Science. The mission of the Academy is to foster curiosity, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of society. The Academy encourages students to complete projects in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The Feb. 27 event showcased 118 projects, representing the work of students in grades 5-12 in 24 public and private schools in the four counties of the Upper Miami Valley District. Of the 118 entries, 56 students received superior ratings and qualified for the State Science Day.

Lehman teachers who helped their students prepare their projects are Tracy Hall, Leah Bertke, and Science Department Chair Sister Ginny Scherer. The six Lehman students who received superior ratings will compete again at the State Science Day on May 14, 2016, at The Ohio State University in Columbus. Over $1 million in scholarships and special awards will be presented at the state level.