​Northbrook Junior High Wins Again At Regional Science Fair

NORTHBROOK, IL — Northbrook Junior High stormed through the regional science fair on Saturday, winning home the division championship trophy for the seventh year in a row.

This year was particularly successful because three students were awarded as best in category, and nine other students received awards, according to science teacher Pam Mendelson.

Held at Niles North High School, the regional competition included nearly 500 projects in 16 categories by students in grades 7 through 12, Mendelson said.

The Northbrook team brought home 19 gold medals and five silver medals.

Sixteen students and a first alternate qualified for state competition, which will be held at Northern Illinois University on May 5 and 6.

The three students who received best in category awards were Sophia Sparacio, Changwoo Yu and Ellie Bosacoma.

The two students received special recognition were Lauren Segal, who won a certificate from the Navy, and Matthew Carr, who won the Optical Society award.

Other students who received awards for scoring in the top 10 percent in their category were Abby Knebelkamp, Colin Redmond, Derrick Chen, and Paige Lawrence.

Mendelson attributed NBJH’s student success to the independent study elective, which she taught along with science teachers Mark Fry (7th grade), Pam Mendelson (8th Grade) and Amber Paull (8th grade). As an elective science class, any 7th- or 8th-grade student can participate. The skills that the students use in the semester-long class align with the "Next Generation Science Standards".

“The students design an experiment, take and analyze data, ask great questions, do their own research, and have to understand other people’s research. I think this is the epitome of "Next Generation",” Mendelson said.

Top photo: From left, Sophia Sparacio, Changwoo Yu, Ellie Bosacoma, Lauren Segal, Matthew Carr

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