CELINA, OH – On Thursday, February 21, 2019 the Fourth Annual Mercer County Science Day was held at Wright State University – Lake Campus.
Thirty-nine middle and high school students from Marion Local and St. Henry participated in the event. Teachers from these school districts helped mentor their students. These teachers include Laura Post, Marion Local; Jeff Kaup, Marion Local; Margaret Kuck, Marion Local and Angie Wendel, St. Henry.
Projects which earn a superior rating earn the right to move on to the district competition being held on March 16th, 2019 at Ohio Northern University. This year ten individual projects and one group project earned a superior rating.
The Mercer County Science Day is part of the 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 twelve students moving onto the district competition are Julia Beyke, Abigail Gast, Alexis Heath, Jackson Heath and Ryan Post, all from St. Henry and Chloe Bergman, Dylan Dahms, Dean Hemmelgarn, Lydia Hess, Ian Rindler, and Troy Stucke from Marion Local.
For more information about the Science Day Competition held at the Lake Campus please contact Dr. Courtney Simons at 419-586-0300 or courntey.simons@wright.edu.
Awards
Superior Rating Projects
Projects earning a superior rating qualify for the district competition being held on March 16, 2019 at Ohio Northern University.
- Troy Stucke & Dean Hemmelgarn, Marion Local, Mind Games
- Olivia Schulze, Marion Local, Does Human Food Help Dogs Lose Weight
- Lydia Hess, Marion Local, What Lip Balm Ingredient Best Prevents Moisture Loss?
- Ian Rindler, Marion Local, Bouncing Golf Ball
- Dylan Dahms, Marion Local, Physical Hearts
- Chloe Bergman, Marion Local, Balancing Battle Eyes vs Ears
- Jackson Heath, St. Henry, The Impact of Music and Memory
- Alexis Heath, St. Henry, Redesign of Hearing Aid Earmolds
- Julia Beyke, St. Henry, The Effect of Melatonin on Caffeine-Affected Sleep
- Abigal Gast, St. Henry, Impact of Handheld Mobile Devices on the Development of Childhood Behavioral Issues
- Ryan Post, St. Henry, Physiological Effects of Virtual Reality
Special Awards
Most Innovative Research
- Lydia Hess, Marion Local, What Lip Blam Ingredient Best Prevents Moisture Loss?
- Awarded to the student or team with the most interesting and creative research project.
Best Research Design
- Ryan Post, St. Henry, Physiological Effects of Virtual Reality
- Awarded to the student or team demonstrating the best scientific approach in addressing the research question.
Best Community Connection
- Jessica Mestemaker, St. Henry, Combating the Teen Vaping Epidemic
- Awarded to the student or team whose research demonstrates the greatest relevance and application to the needs of Mercer County.
Best Presentation Skills (Sponsored by Bruns Construction)
- Jack Heath, St. Henry, The Impact of Music and Memory
- Awarded to the student or team whose presentation skills demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively to a group.
Best Research Paper (Sponsored by Bruns Construction)
- Julia Beyke, St. Henry, The Effect of Melatonin on Caffeine-Affected Sleep
- Awarded to the student or team whose research demonstrates an understanding of the scientific process and can convey their findings through written form.
Mercer County School District STEM Trophy
- Marion Local Schools
- Awarded to the school district demonstrating the most outstanding participation in the Mercer County Science Day Competition.
PHOTO IDENTIFICATION: Shown are students who earned a Superior Rating or a Special Award at the 2019 Mercer County Science Day held at Wright State University – Lake Campus. Top row, from left: Marion Local Schools, Mercer County STEM Trophy; Chloe Bergman, Marion Local, Superior Rating; Dylan Dahm, Marion Local, Superior Rating. Middle Row, from left: Abigail Gast, St. Henry, Superior Rating, Alexis Heath, St. Henry, Superior Rating; Jackson Heath, St. Henry, Superior Rating & Best Presentation Skills; Lydia Hess, Marion Local Superior Rating & Most Innovative Research and Jessica Mestemaker, St. Henry, Best Community Connection. Bottom row, from left: Ryan Post, St. Henry, Superior Rating & Best Research Design; Ian Rindler, Marion Local, Superior Rating; Olivia Schulze, Marion Local, Superior Rating; Troy Stuck and Dean Hemmelgarn, Marion Local, Superior Rating. Not pictured is Julia Beyke, St. Henry, Superior Rating and Best Research Paper.
