Scioto County Students Receive Science Day Awards
May 14—SCIOTO — This year the Ohio Academy of Science determined that Science Days would be held virtually due to restrictions related to the pandemic. It was determined that students could register to go directly to District Science Day (without needing to participate in their own school's Science Day or in County Science Day).
The South Central Ohio Service Center's Gifted Services Department offered to pay all registration fees for students to participate in District Science Day as a way of encouraging students to take part in this event. Students were required to create video presentations of their projects, submit research papers, and register with the Ohio Academy of Science in order to participate. Videos were 15 to 20 minutes in length and students were given prompts to help them with talking points. Volunteer judges from around the state were recruited to watch the videos and score students' projects based on the following criteria: oral, written and visual communication, originality of project concept, experimental design, and depth of understanding. From this round of judging, students received ratings of Superior, Excellent, Good, or Satisfactory.
In the next round of judging local Scioto County sponsors watched the students' videos to determine who would win their Sponsor Awards, and at the same time, District 14 sponsors were determining their awards as well. Sharee Price, Gifted Services Coordinator at the South Central Ohio Educational Service Center, coordinated the efforts between the Ohio Academy of Science, District 14 Science Day coordinators, and local sponsors, to award Scioto County students. "The process and timeline were very different this year, but our students rose to the occasion and did a great job! I'm very thankful to our sponsors who went above and beyond in learning how to navigate the virtual system and who were willing to work with us to offer awards to our local students," said Price.
Sponsor Awards went to the following: The Scioto County Farm Bureau 1st place Award of $100 was awarded to Lorelei Martin of Minford and their 2nd place Award of $50 was awarded to Addison Mullins of Wheelersburg. The Gahm's Pharmacy Medicine and Health Award of $50 was awarded to Serena Kataria of Wheelersburg. The Gahm's Pharmacy II Medicine and Health Award of $50 was awarded to Lorelei Martin of Minford. SOMC Health and Wellness Awards of $200 each were awarded to Serena Kataria of Wheelersburg and Claire Clevenger of Minford. The Darren LeBrun Engineering Award of $100 was awarded to Lorelei Martin of Minford.
Special Recognition Awards of $300 each were awarded to the following students who all received Superior ratings at the District 14 Science Day: Addison Mullins and Serena Kataria of Wheelersburg; Claire Clevenger, Lorelei Martin, and Briar VanSickle of Minford; and Vivian Wheeler of Notre Dame High School.
Certificates and medallions were provided for all Scioto County students who received Superior ratings at District 14 Science Day and awards from local sponsors. Locally this event was supported by William and Barbara Burke, Desco Federal Credit Union, Velma Feagans, Gahm's Pharmacy, Gahm's Pharmacy II, Darren LeBrun, Dr. Jonathan Lucas, Dr. Michael & Mrs. Mary Martin, Portsmouth Rotary Club, Scioto County Farm Bureau, the Scioto Foundation, Shawnee Nature Club, and SOMC.
District 14 Science Day is coordinated by Dr. John Means at the University of Rio Grande. District 14 Awards were awarded to five Scioto County students. Lorelei Martin of Minford was awarded the Water Environment Science Award of $100, the Emergent Scientist Award in Engineering and Computer Sciences for $50, and the Emerging Scientist in Health and Applied Sciences for $100. Serena Kataria of Wheelersburg was awarded the
Emerging Scientist Award in Behavioral and Social Sciences for $50. Briar VanSickle of Minford was awarded the Emerging Scientist Award in Earth and Biological Sciences for $50 and he is an alternate for the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority's College Advantage 529 Savings Plan for $250. Claire Clevenger of Minford won the Emerging Scholar Award for $50 and was also an alternate for the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority's College Advantage 529 Savings Plan for $250. Addison Mullins of Wheelersburg was the recipient of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority's College Advantage 529 Savings Plan for $250.
Claire Clevenger, Serena Kataria, Lorelei Martin, Addison Mullins, Briar VanSickle, and Vivian Wheeler all received Superior ratings at District Science Day and are eligible to advance to State Science Day, which will also be judged virtually. State Science Day results will be announced in June.
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