54 Entries in Malta Elementary School Science Fair

Youngsters with a keen plan, a touch of fresh ideas, and sometimes some help on the side, created and displayed 43 science projects in the areas of Chemical, Life, Earth, and Physical for the 2024 Science Fair. Grades 1 through 5 entered 43 entries, and the kindergarteners could enter a Collection, with 11 choosing to be in the Fair this year. The entries were all set up at the Malta Elementary School on Monday and were judged by a panel of judges. In the afternoon, the gym where the projects were was opened to the public and parents for viewing. The Loring Colony and homeschool families also participated in the fair this year.

On Tuesday afternoon the tension had built up enough within those that anxiously waited for some decision on how they each had done. Parents, grandparents, neighbors, friends and the general public filled in what space was left on the bleachers and the energy could be felt within.

Amanda Ziegler and Meghan Newman spearheaded the Science Fair this year. The Energizer Bunnies that had been tackling the project for the last couple years were facing burnout, their own kids phasing out, or too many irons in the fire, and it was about to be dropped from the events within the school.

Ziegler said, "I just didn't want to see it die out, it's important for the kids to learn presentation and public speaking." With the help of Newman, the torch was kept burning, and the two let the imagination and initiative of the students catch on fire.

But...it takes a village to raise a child and to do many other things, such as putting together and pulling off a successful science fair. Ziegler and Newman were assisted by the Elementary teaching staff, the office ladies (Shelley and Melissa), members of PIE, Mrs. Young, Jill Hould, Shari Solberg, Kayla Warren, and all those who did things under the radar.

Mardy Demarais, Gretchen Boardman, Katie Brown, Susan Bibbs, Mendy Estill, Cheyenne Young, Jake Kunze, Taylor Sjostrom, Kate Carnahan, and Jackie Sorlie were the judges who volunteered their time for the event.

The Kindergarten students receiving recognition were Gracie Jesson, Jexx Haggag, Quinton Wright, Barrett Shores, Easton Bissett, Riley Majerus, Owen Ost, Mila Shores, Ella Brown, Rivyr Raymond and Eddie Ziegler.

The 1st Grade winners and their category and placings were: (Chemical) Red Award: Caylynn Rickett, Bryndle Webb, Grayson Rogers; Blue Award: Vera Handley, Jordyn Wiltse, Hendrik Wiese, and Nellie Salveson (Medal). (Life) Red Award: Gunnar Lefdahl, and Blue Award: Cote French (and Medal). (Physical) Blue: McCoy Hould, and Calum Webb (and Medal). Trophy winner was Cote French.

The 2nd Grade winners, winners, the category and placings were: (Chemical) Blue Award: Everli Tatafu, Sage Mahan, Kambyr Boardman and Eden Domire (Medal); (Life) Red: Chet Prestwich; Blue: Hannah Ziegler, Desiree Hofer (and both won Medals); (Earth) Blue: Logan Hofer, Tavi Lulloff, Emma Solberg and Lily Warren (and Medal); (Physical) Blue: Annabel Hofer (and Medal). Trophy winner was Lily Warren.

The 3rd Grade results were: (Chemical) Red: Kinley Young; (Life) Red: Jackson Nelson; Blue (Medal: Holden Crossland; (Earth) Red: Cyrus Lefdahl; (Physical) Red: Gemma Wright, Blue: Avery Schwartz, and Lucy Salveson (Medal). The trophy winner was Holden Crossland.

The 4th Grade placings were: (Chemical) Red: Nathan Domire; Blue: Roman Mock, Danica Darrington, Haidyn Hould, and Reagan Bleth (Medal); (Life) Red: Mira Tharp; Blue: Erin Solberg (Medal); (Earth) Blue: Kasen Boardman (Medal); and (Physical) Blue: Clyde Lankford (Medal). Trophy winners were Reagan Bleth and Erin Solberg.

Entering their final Science Fair projects as Elementary students were the 5th Graders: (Life) Red: Savannah and Miley Weaver; Blue: Izzy Oshio, and Anna Brown (Medal); and (Physical) Kaiden Tharp, winning Blue and Medal. The trophy winner was Anna Brown.

Cote French was one elated winner, to say the least. As she proudly displayed her winning trophy, she exclaimed, "It's so shiny I can see my face!" She had her hands full with her trophy, ribbon and medal.

Her Science Fair entry was "Why Animals Eyes Light Up in the Night. I chose a crocodile (or an alligator), a raccoon or a frog. The raccoon eyes lit up the best." She said "I just made up the idea in my head."

Anna Brown received recognition for six years in the Science Fair. Her project this year was on "...bovine pinkeye."

She shared, "...how it is spread, how it is caused," as well as "how nasty it is...really nasty." She said the treatment can be "with vaccine, eye patches, eye ointment or medicated feed."

To do her presentation, she said, "I took pictures of swabbing the eye and put the swab in petri glasses and watched the fungi grow." Asked if the fungi did grow, she said, "yes, and it was nasty, very nasty." Her gathering of information, experimentation and getting results took her a couple of weeks.

Two classes were winners of a root beer float party for classrooms with the most entries, and students in classes of Mrs. Ost and Mrs. DePuydt will enjoy that treat.

PIE decided this year to award the participants with a pizza party with....their favorite, MR. HANDLEY! It was difficult through the cheering and jubilation to determine who was the most excited!

PIE also had a drawing for two swim passes for the summer. McKoy Hould and Rivyr Raymond won the summer fun in the water and sunshine as winners of the drawing.

PIE donated the medals and awards, and Valley Drug sponsored the trophies, as well as pop and gum for the participants and refreshments for the judges.

Congratulations to all the participants and a thank you to those helping in any manner. The PCN is looking forward to 2025 and following the creations and findings of young minds at work.