Ipswich science students earn honors at NSU Science Fair

Nine Ipswich Public School students competed at the 36th annual Northern South Dakota Science & Math competition in Aberdeen on March 28, 2019.

Six middle school students were registered in the junior division and three high school students were registered in the senior division.

Ipswich students arrived at the NSU Barnett Center that morning along with 14 other schools from around the area. After setting up their boards, students waited 30 minutes before the first round of interviews began. Each student was interview by a minimum of two judges and some had three.

After everyone is interviewed, the waiting began again as awards were not announced until 6 p.m. "Overall, the students had a great experience, with opportunities to visit with other students, NSU faculty/staff, and see the excitement that science can generate," said science teacher Laurel Schambel.

At the awards that night, four Ipswich students received recognition for their projects. Katie Bierman received a cash prize from the S.D. Academy of Science and won a first place trophy in the Environmental Sciences junior division for her project, called "Melting Power."  Jailey Hutson received a first place trophy in the Medicine & Health/Biochemistry junior division for her project entitled, "What's in your Water?" and was nominated to compete in the 2019 Broadcom Masters Competition in "recognition of outstanding performance at a society for science and the public affiliated science fair and as a top science fair project in the nation." Reaghan Bowers received a miscellaneous prize from the NSU Bookstore for her project in the botany/zoology junior division, which was entitled, "Sand vs. Potting Soil." Max Kulesa received a cash prize from the S.D. Academy of Science for his project in the Medicine & Health/Biochemistry junior division, which was entitled, "How Strong is Your Cereal?"  

Ipswich Middle School students demonstrated that they could compete with the best area schools and come out on top.