Students excel at AMBE Science Fair

The Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Science Fair – an annual tradition – was held last Thursday at the Snye Recreation Centre. Students in grades sixth and higher from all area schools were invited to participate.

While sixth-graders are required to complete a science project as part of their school’s curriculum, many students in higher grades participate in the fair voluntarily.

Students from the St. Regis Mohawk School, Ahkwesahsne Mohawk School and Kana:takon School set their projects up in the recreation center’s gymnasium and judges from a variety of backgrounds and professions walked around the room meeting with students and discussing their projects. At the day’s end, a total of 8 projects (ten students) were selected to advance to the American Indian Science and Engineering Society’s National Science Fair in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota next March.

The ten students selected were:

• Morgan Boots, Gr. 6, SRMS, for “All Washed Up.”

• Angel Lazore-Phillips, Gr. 6, AMS, for “Stretchy”

• Cordell Benedict, Gr. 6, AMS, for “Bull’s Eye”

• Serena Boots & Santana Tarbell, Gr. 7, KS, for “Springing Spring”

• Taho Mitchell & Tristen Thompson, Gr. 6, SRMS, for “Soak it Up”

• Kendrick Swamp, Gr. 6, SRMS, for “I’ll Huff and I’ll Puff”

• Cherish Benedict, Gr. 6, SRMS, for “Soak it Up”

• Ashley Hall Skidders, Gr. 8, KS, for “Music vs. Concentration

Along with the finalist awards, an award is also given for the “best in fair” project, given on behalf of Clarkson University. This year’s Clarkson Trophy was awarded to Morgan Boots.

A trophy named after the science fair’s founder is also presented each year in her memory. The Cathy Hall Experimental Project Award (with a $100 cash prize) was presented this year to Joel Herne, Gr. 6, from the SRMS for his project, “Speedy Glue.”