CELINA, OH – On Thursday, February 20, 2020 the Fifth Annual Mercer-Auglaize Science Day was held at Wright State University – Lake Campus.
Twenty-three middle and high school students from Marion Local, St. Henry and Celina participated in the event. Teachers from these school districts helped mentor their students. These teachers include; Laura Post, Marion Local; Dr. Angie Wendel, St. Henry and Katherine Dirksen, Celina.
Projects which earn a superior rating earn the right to move on to the district competition being held on March 21, 2020 at Ohio Northern University. This year five individual projects and one group projects earned a superior rating. Those who earned a superior rating are: Jayden Bruns, Marion Local; Levi Stachler, Marion Local; Gwn Elking, St. Henry; Lauren Hemmelgarn, St. Henry; Issac Wendel, St. Henry. The group project that earned a superior rating was Alayna Birt and Lamis Brahim, Marion Local.
The Mercer-Auglaize County Science Day is part of The Ohio Academy of Science’s Ohio State Science Day which is the largest project-based STEM education program since the late 1940s. The program is designed to help foster curiosity, discovery, innovation and problem-solving skills. The Science Day is an opportunity to share their findings with scientists who will judge their work and evaluate them on originality, creativity, use of the scientific or technological methods, knowledge achieved and teamwork.
For more information about the Science Day Competition held at the Lake Campus please contact Dr. Courtney Simons at 419-586-0300 or courtney.simons@wright.edu.
Superior Rating – Individual Projects
Projects earning a superior rating qualify for the district competition being held on March 21, 2020 at Ohio Northern University.
- Jayden Bruns, Marion Local, Make the Wind Work for You
- Levi Stachler, Marion Local, Bottled Up Buoyancy
- Gwyn Elking, St. Henry, Effect of Lactose on the Onset of Huntington’s Disease in C. elegans
- Lauren Hemmelgarn, St. Henry, Effectiveness of Silver as an Anti-microbial Agent in Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
- Isaac Wendel, St. Henry, Artificial Intelligence versus Human in Kinship Recognition
Superior Rating – Group Projects
Projects earning a superior rating qualify for the district competition being held on March 21, 2020 at Ohio Northern University.
- Alayna Birt and Lamis Brahim, Marion Local, Do You Hear What I See
Special Awards
Most Innovative Research
Jayden Bruns, Marion Local, Make the Wind Work for You
Awarded to the student or team with the most interesting and creative research project.
Best Research Design
Isaac Wendel, St. Henry, Artificial Intelligence versus Human in Kinship Recognition
Awarded to the student or team demonstrating the best scientific approach in addressing the research question.
Best Community Connection
Ryan Schwieterman, Marion Local, Which Calf Is Fattest
Awarded to the student or team whose research demonstrates the greatest relevance and application to the needs of Mercer and Auglaize Counties.
Mercer County and Auglaize School District STEM Trophy
Marion Local Schools
Awarded to the school district demonstrating the most outstanding participation in the Mercer and Auglaize County Science Day Competition.
Sponsors
- Access Engineering Solutions
- Briarwood Village
- CA Group
- Celina Insurance Group
- Celina Moving & Storage
- Chickasaw Machine & Tool Inc.
- Hi-Tech Wire Inc.
- M.A.V. Youth Mentoring
- Mercer Health
- Mercer Savings Bank
- Second National Bank
- Totally Promotional
- Western Ohio Educational Foundation
