Senior high students heading to the state science fair, are in front, from left, East Noble junior Kelli Doyle, seniors Kathryn Merkling and Kelly Reed, and sophomore Kacey Van Wagner. In back, from left, are DeKalb freshman Nicole Gillespie, senior Alex VanWye, freshman Maddy Fifer, East Noble senior Patrick Worthey, freshman Mason Diffenderfer and sophomore Natalie Pine.

 

Elementary and junior high students heading to state are, In front, from left, Eastside Junior-Senior High sixth-grader Ben Scrock, Fremont Elementary fourth-grader Bree Marckel-Rodriguez, Saint Mary Elementary School sixth-grader Benjamin Schlink and J.E. Ober Elementary fifth-grader Josh Blessinger. In back, from left, are Angola Middle School sixth-grader Evan Trusty, Prairie Heights eighth-grader Andrea Ledgerwood, St. John Lutheran School sixth-grader Nathan Walz, Eastside sixth-grader Andrew Steffen, J.R. Watson Elementary fifth-grader Brooke-destinee Lockwood and J.E. Ober fifth-grader Austin Leech. Not pictured are West Noble fourth-graders Kristina Teel and Kaylee Halsey.

Trine hosts 52nd annual regional science fair

 

East Noble High School swept Trine University's 52nd annual Tri-State Regional Science Fair, capturing 41 awards Saturday afternoon in Hershey Hall on the main campus in Angola.

Students of all ages from schools in DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben counties competed for a variety of category and special awards, including the opportunity to advance to the Science Education Foundation of Indiana's Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair March 31 in Indianapolis.

For the second year, the regional science fair did not select a student to attend the international science fair. Students must win that honor at the state science fair.

East Noble fared well at the competition, capturing all senior high category awards. Category winners were: senior Kathryn Merkling for biochemistry; junior Kelli Doyle for botany and microbiology; sophomores Janelle Wasson and Cassandra Gaff for behavioral and social sciences; freshman Mason Diffenderfer for environmental and earth science; senior Patrick Worthey for senior animal science; and senior Kelly Reed for engineering.

Senior high state qualifiers were: DeKalb High School freshman Nicole Gillespie, seniors Alex VanWye and Heather Blickenstaff, and freshman Maddy Fifer; and East Noble's Merkling, Worthey, Doyle, Reed and sophomores Natalie Pine and Kacey Van Wagner.

Area elementary and junior high students moving to state include: Eastside sixth-graders Ben Scrock and Andrew Steffen, Fremont fourth-grader Bree Marckel-Rodriguez, Saint Mary Elementary sixth-grader Benjamin Schlink, J.E. Ober fifth-graders Josh Blessinger and Austin Leech, Angola sixth-grader Evan Trusty, Prairie Heights eighth-grader Andrea Ledgerwood, St. John Lutheran sixth-grader Nathan Walz, J.R. Watson fifth-grader Brooke-destinee Lockwood and West Noble fourth-graders Kristina Teel and Kaylee Halsey.

First-place grade-level winners in the elementary division were: Marckel-Rodriguez, Fremont second-grader Ethan Bock, Ryan Park first-grader Lucy Smith, J.R. Watson third-grader Ian Heimann, Blessinger and Leech.

Junior high category winners were: Scrock for engineering; Saint Mary sixth-grader Benjamin Schlink for biochemistry; Walz for chemistry; Trusty for physics and astronomy; Ledgerwood for environmental and earth sciences; Saint Mary seventh-graders Bridget Breckler for animal sciences and Kaelyn Bender for behavioral and social sciences; Saint Mary fifth-grader Alyvea Bender for behavior and social sciences; Westview Elementary sixth-grader Sammy Salim for botany and microbiology; and Central Noble eighth-grader Scott Archer for math and computer science.

Trine University Department of Science chair Ann Benson and administrative assistant Emily Chancellor were given special recognition for spearheading the science fair.

Organizations and businesses presenting awards included: the northeast Indiana and Trine University student affiliate chapters of the American Chemical Society, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Meteorological Society, the American Psychological Association, Association for Women Geoscientists, ASM Materials Education Foundation, Broadcom, Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation districts, Indiana Water Environment Federation, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Intel, Isaac Knapp Dental Society, Mu Alpha Theta, National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration, National Society of Professional Engineers, Northeastern Center,  Northeast Indiana Pharmacists Association, Northeast Indiana Solid Waste Management, Purdue School of Agriculture, Ricoh Corp., Society of Women Engineers, Steuben County Lakes Council, Tri Beta (Xi Beta chapter), Trine University's Chemistry Department, Future Forensic Scientists, American Criminal Justice Association and Math Club, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army Engineering, U.S. Navy/Marines and Yale Science & Engineering Fair.

For a complete list of winners, click here.

To share your news, contact Trine University communication specialist Lindsay Winslow Brown at winslowbrownl@trine.edu.