Fairfield eighth-graders receive science fair awards

Students' projects using the scientific method were on display for judging Feb. 14 at the Fairfield Middle School.

The eighth grade formed two-student teams; the partners decided on a project of their mutual interest, established a problem for which they had to experiment, sought their results and created a display and a presentation to show their results.

A group of adult and high school judges evaluated the projects, checking on the students' presentation, creativity, knowledge gained, use of scientific method, and teamwork.

The top projects which can advance to the District Science Fair March 16 at Wilmington College are the following: First overall - a tie, Catching Waves, by Bailey Willey and Ali Powers, and Paintball, Temperature vs Impact, by Klay Walker and Jenson Daulton; second place - Coin Charging, by Hannah Crank and Jason Moeller; third place - Shoe Type and Vertical Jump, Brittany Mondabaugh and Emily Shope; and honorable mention - How Gaming Affects your Blood Pressure, by Joey Rigsby and T. J. Franks.

Other awards are as follows: Extensive Research-Diesel Smoke, by Keith Thompson and Dustin Huff; Environmental - Erosion Control, by Abigail Newkirk and LeAnn Richards; Best use of Scientific Method - Tee Size, by Jacob Bowman and Jason Rice; Teamwork - The Memory Game, by Annabelle Meddock and Emily Smithson; Botany - Miracle Grow, by Lane Frost and Kadyn Lamb; Best Presentation - Laundry Detergent - A Hidden Danger, by Hannah Putnam and Shania Setty; Life Science - Tadpole vs. Temperature, by Wyatt Evans and Mason Cain; Health - Sugar Boost, by Mikayla Page and Haleigh Bates; Originality - Travel Charger, by Bryce Woods and Devin Haynes; Engineering - Saving Energy, by Emily Wisecup and Lexi Sowders; and three single project awards: Energy - How Wood Burns When Wet, by Sherry Heckathorn; Chemistry - Water Acidity, by James Wuellner, and Wildlife, It's A Bat's Life, by Brooke Buchanan.