SIDNEY — Lehman Catholic High School held its annual Science Fair recently in the Cianciolo Family gymnasium at the school. Lehman students submitted 79 projects for judging.
Twenty-eight students received superior ratings, qualifying them to participate in district competition. Students must earn at least 36 out of a possible 40 points to receive a superior.
Two students received a perfect score of 40: senior Nate Bosway for his project “What Type of Foreign Flora can thrive in the Human Stomach?” and freshman Alex Gleason for his project “The Diamagneticism of Soluted Water.”
Other students who received superior ratings were freshman Tiffany Behr (“The Vision Difference Between Males and Females Using Illusions”), freshman Allison Bornhorst (“Which Primary Color Provides the Most Abundant Algae Population?”), freshman Rachel Bosway (“Electromagnetic Radiation: Can It Harm Us?”), freshman Kiera Burns (“Measuring Heat Loss Using Oranges”), freshman Carly Edwards (“Do Various External Stimuli Affect Short Term Memory Capabilities in Teenagers?”), freshman Sarah Gibson (“Which Surface Type does Dry Ice Sublime Fastest On?”), and freshman Cole Gilardi (“The Effects of Caffeine and Coffee Grounds on Plant Growth”).
Also receiving superior ratings were sophomore Max Hamlin (“Roofing Efficiency”), senior Caroline Heitmeyer (“Which Oil has the Greatest Saturated Fat Content?”), senior Cassidy Hemm (“Which Solute Will Lower the Freezing Point of Water the Most?”), freshman Madison Hurley (“Blue Light vs. a Good Night’s Sleep”), sophomore Lauren Larger (“The Effect of Chemicals on the Coagulation of Blood”), sophomore Meaghan McDonald (“High Frequencies”), sophomore Brogan McIver (“Which Athletic Tape Provides the Best Support for an Ankle Injury?”), freshman Grace Monnin (“The Greenhouse Effect”), junior Megan Neumeier (“The Effects of Lactase Supplements on Lactose”), and senior Nick Neumeier (“The Buffering Capacity of Different Soil Compositions”).
Superior ratings were also awarded to freshman Conor O’Leary (“The Effect of the Opacity of a Solution on Light Refraction”), freshman Ann Pannapara (“The Effect of Burned Soil on Seed Germination”), freshman David Potts (“What is Zipf?”), junior Parker Riley (“Can Warm Water Freeze Faster than Cold Water?), freshman Jacquie Schemmel (“How does Light Affect the Bioluminescences of Pyrocystis Fusiformis?”), freshman Aidan Snyder (“Giving a Helping Hand: A Study on Prosthetics”), senior Ana Vazquez (“The Effects of Energy Drinks on the Human Body”), sophomore Kelsey Weber (“The Effects of Antioxidants and Free Radicals on Seed Germination”), and freshman Brieanna Werling (“Shaping Your Thoughts”).
Three students received additional Governor’s Thomas Edison Awards for Excellence in Student Research: Megan Neumeier in the area of Agriculture and Food Technology, Aidan Snyder in the area of Biotechnology and Biomedical Technologies, and Nick Neumeier in the area of Environmental Sciences. The Governor’s Awards stress STEM Education which is both the mastery and integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for all PK-12 students. It incorporates scientific inquiry and technological design through student-focuses, project-based curricula to develop skills of communication, teamwork/collaboration, creativity/innovation, critical thinking, and problem solving.
All students who participated in the Science Fair received certificates from the Ohio Academy of Science.
Judges for the Lehman event were Lynda Adams from Shelby SWCD, Dave Ayton from Emerson Climate Technologies, Jon Baker, John Biggs from Emerson Climate Technologies, Mark Briggs, Judy Briggs, Joe Bundy from Hobart Brothers, Terry Calvert form Edison Community College, Ed and Mary Cubick from Good Samaritan Hospital, Mike Decker from DuBois Chemical, Debra Driskell from Peak Foods LLC, Delores Droesch from Wilson Health and Dana Embree from Emerson Climate Technologies.
Other judges included Scott Flood from Crown Equipment Company, Betsy Fortman from NASA, William Fuller from FUYAO Glass America, Thomas Frantz from Eagle Bridge Company, Jacob Groshek from Emerson Climate Technologies, Ann Heeley, Jim Hemm from Dare Electronics, James Hemmelgarn from Hemmelgarn Services, Jeff Hoying from Emerson Climate Technologies, Reema Kamat from Emerson Climate Technologies, Russell Kill from Piqua Catholic School, Susan Monroe RN, Dennis Pax from Emerson Climate Technologies, Kris Pax from Abbott Nutrition and Vicki Quinter from Anna High School.
Other judges were Dr. Louis Rebrovic from Emerson Climate Technologies, Keith Reinhart from Emerson Climate Technologies, Tom Rossman from ODOT, Greg Schmiesing from Flinn Veterinary, Harold Schmiesing, Tony Schroeder from Choice One Engineering, Gary Schultz, Doug Smith from French Oil Mill Machinery Company, Chad Sollmann from Crown Equipment, Besty Snyder, Jon Snyder from ITW Hobart Brothers, Dr. Jeff Van Treese DDS, Frank Wallis of Emerson Climate Technologies, Steve and Kim Wenning from Emerson Climate Technologies, Dr. John Wilding from Ohio Vision, Timothy Woodward from Tri-County Veterinary and Gwen Stiver from Holy Angels School.
Members of the Lehman Science Department faculty who assisted the students in preparing for the event include Tracy Hall, Leah Bertke and Science Department Chair Sister Ginny Scherer.
The Upper Miami Valley District Science Fair Day will be held on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at Edison Community College. Those who receive superiors at that level will be invited to the State Science Fair at The Ohio State University on May 14, 2016.
