ASHLAND, Ohio — Many area residents were among the more than 250 students from 37 area schools competing March 21 at Ashland University, for the 55th annual Mohican District Science Day. Sponsored by the Mohican District Junior Division of the Ohio Academy of Science, the event was held in the Ashland University’s John C. Myers Convocation Center.
For school awards, Northwestern High School had the most superiors (22) and Columbia High School had the highest percentage (75 percent) of superiors for the high school division.
St. Francis Xavier had the most superiors (5) and Lake Ridge Academy and St. Peter tied for the highest percentage of (80 percent) superiors for the middle school/junior high division.
Millersburg had the most superiors (4) and Millersburg tied with West Holmes for highest percentage of (50 percent) superiors for the elementary school division.
Rachael Mahr, a senior at Northwestern High School, received an Outstanding Student Award. Mahr’s project was on “A DNA-based diagnostic for tobacco mosaic virus resistance or susceptibility in tomato plants.” She received a plaque and the Mohican District Science Council paid for her State Science Day entry fees.
Two Northwestern High School students — senior Trenton Kline and Rachel Mahr received the Governor’s Thomas Edison Awards for Excellence in STEM Education. Kline’s project was on “Rollover Prevention” while Mahr’s project was on “A DNA-based diagnostic for tobacco mosaic virus resistance or susceptibility in tomato plants.” STEM education is both the mastery and integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics for all PK-12 students. It incorporates scientific inquiry and technological design through student-focused, project-based curricula to develop skills of communication, teamwork/collaboration, creativity/innovation, critical thinking, and problem solving. Each award received a $50 savings bond provided by the Mohican District Science Council.
Maggie Linder, a freshman at Northwestern High School; Gabbrielle Cecil, a sophomore at Northwestern High School; and Allison Jackson, an 8th grader at Northwestern Middle School, all received Area Industry Sponsored Awards. Linder received the WIL Research award within the analytical biochemistry area on her project “How Common Chemicals Affect the Body.” Cecil received the WIL Research award within the analytical chemistry area on her project “How is the Rate of Heat Loss Based on the Surface?” Jackson received the WIL Research award within the medicine and health sciences area on her project “Transformation Efficiency of E. coli in the Presence of Lunasin.”
Northwestern’s Emily Bouffard, a freshman, received the Cornerstone Counseling of Ashland award on her project “Character Personality vs. Reader Mood.” This award was given to the best project in the field of Behavioral Science. Bouffard received a plaque and an Ashland University Bookstore gift certificate.
William Carroll, an eighth grade student from Loudonville Middle School, received the Geology Club of Ashland University second place award for projects in the area of earth, space and environmental science. His project was titled “Earthquake Tremors, How Powerful Are They.” Jordan Allshouse, a seventh grade student student from Northwestern Middle School, received the Geology Club of Ashland University third place award for projects in the area of earth, space and environmental science, for his project “Soil pH: Which Soil Will Have the Strongest Acidity?”
Ella McBride, a 7th grader from St. Edwards Middle School; Joanna Psaropoulos and Alexis Hamrlik, seventh graders from St. Peter Middle School; and Sophie Strickling, a seventh grader from St. Edwards Middle School, all received the B-Wiser Institute Scholarship, a $100 scholarship to the Buckeye Women in Science Camp at Wooster College. McBride’s project was “White vs. Color: Which is Better for Memory,” while the project by Psaropoulos and Hamrlik was titled “Kerplunk: The Viscosity of Liquids” and the project for Strickling was “Human Hydration.”
Hannah Hottel, a senior from Northwestern High School, won the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo award of four tickets to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo with her project, “Comparing the Natural and Top Brand Treatments Effect on the Strongyle Parasites.”
Aubree Ann Houin, a sixth grader from West Holmes Middle School, received the Ohio Soybean Bioscience Award. Houin’s project was on “When Less is More: The Effect of Reduced Planting.” This award was given to the best projects in the area of agriculture biosciences, bioresources, biopolymers, bioproducts, and/or biofuels using soybeans. Houin received a $100 cash prize.
The following area projects have been invited to attend the Buckeye Science and Engineering Fair on April 4. These were the top projects in grades 9-11.
— Brevin Shearer, a junior at Northwestern HS for his project, “Burn baby burn!”
— Breanna Clifford & Sarah Dudziak, freshmen at Black River High Schools for their project, “Influence of food marketing directed towards children.”
— Amber Clingan & Katelynn DiPetro, freshmen at Mapleton High School for their project, “Melon bomb.”
— Jessica Saki, freshman at Northwestern High School, for her project, “Music to the Heart.”
— Anastasia Axiopoulos, a sophomore at Mansfield High School, for her project, “Creating and decomposing biodegradable bioplastic.”
— Bailey Alder, a sophomore at Northwestern High School, for her project titled, “Rollover Prevention.”
— Josh Melegari & James Volcansek, juniors at Northwestern High School, for their project, “Rollover Safety.”
— Grace Maier & Nikki Piskac, freshmen at Northwestern High School, for their project titled, “Effects of phosphoric acid on stomach tissue.”
Those students receiving superior awards and qualified for going on to state competition as a guaranteed participate or alternate were:
— Ashland Christian, grades seven and eight: Jack Meyer, Morgan Manke and Tara Friesen.
— Ashland Middle School, grades seven and eight: Luke Blackley.
— Black River Local Schools, grades nine through 12: Breanna Clifford, Sarah Dudziak, Grace Maier, Nikki Piskac and Kristen Kollar.
— Franklin Elementary, grades five and six: Emily Yacapraro and Taylor Schneider.
— Lakeville Elementary, grades five and six: Logan Barlow, Elyssa Sutton and Hunter Ellis.
— Loudonville Middle School, grades seven and eight: Dylan Polen and Emma Hinkle.
— Lucas Middle School, grades seven and eight: Jevin Litwiler.
— Mansfield Senior High School, grades nine through 12: Anastasia Axiopoulos and Olta Toska.
— Mapleton High School, grades nine through 12: Amber Clingan and Kateylnn DiPietro.
— Millersburg Elementary, grades five and six: James Barr, Kaili Maltarich, Avery Yoder and Megan Westbrook.
— Northwestern Local Schools, grades five through 12: Avery Garver, Ryan Walter, Hannah Hottel, Rachel Mahr, Brevin Shearer, Cortney Howman, Allison Jackson, Bailey Adler, Emily Bouffard, Ethan Beegle, Eric Winkler, Josh Melegari, James Volcansek, Hannah Kardohely, Andrew Orosz, Daniel Proben, Shannon Garrison, Taylor Starling, Audra Gill, Maggie Linder, Trenton Kline, Donnie Martin, Erin Gordon, Mary Baker, Mykenzie Snyder, Kaci Way, Amaya White, Victoria Devore and Jordan Allshouse.
— St. Edward, grades five through eight: Collette Mooney, Sophie Strickling, Elyse Reed and Ella McBride.
— St. Peter, grades seven and eight: Connery Van Dyke, Joanna Psaropoulos, Alexis Hamrlik, Ryan Brown and Frank Krupka.
— West Holmes, grades five through eighth: Brogan Steimel and Aubree Ann Houin.