Three St. Rose of Lima Student Projects Recognized in the 2012 Connecticut State Science Fair

The Connecticut Science Fair is a yearly, statewide science and engineering fair in which over 15,000 Grade 7 through 12 students from CT and NY schools participate. Three individual projects and two team projects by St. Rose of Lima middle school students qualified at the regional 2012 Science Horizons competition in February and advanced to the statewide competition this past week. At the Fair, projects by student Grace Herrick, as well as teams Lauren Cirone and Anna Brubaker, and Katerina Ringes and Marina Renzi, were recognized and awarded. Competing at the CT Science Fair in the combined 7^th and 8^th grade category, the entries were recognized for their research and presentation excellence, and two projects were invited to compete at the National Science Fair in Washington, D.C. 

Grace Herrick's project, The Investigation of the Presence of Caffeine in Groundwater and Sewage, was the result of the open water swimmer’s growing concern about water pollution. Grace visited the Newtown Waste Treatment Plant and was surprised by the significant number of discarded pharmaceutical containers in the pre-treatment chamber. She then set out to analyze local sewage and groundwater samples for the presence of caffeine, which was chosen as a “marker” compound for other unwanted organic compounds (such as pharmaceuticals) in the water supply. The water samples were determined to be caffeine-free, and at the Fair, her project received two special awards from the Office of Naval Research - US Navy /US Marine Corps and Association for Women Geoscientists. She also received awards including a Second Place Environmental Trophy award from the Audubon Connecticut with Arch Chemicals, Inc. (the only 7th grader to receive this award) and a First Place Trophy in the “Individual-Physical” category from Dominion Millstone Power Station’s Physical Sciences Award, which allows her to compete at the national level.

Seventh grade students Lauren Cirone and Anna Brubaker were also recognized in the “Team-Biological” division for their project, Testing the Effect of Ph Levels of Polluted Fresh Water on Elodea Canadensis, and received a Pfizer CSF Medallion Award and ranked in the Life Span finalists of the Life Sciences Middle School Team as well as received a Third Place Alexion Biotechnology Award trophy, and were invited to enter their project at the national level. Their project determined that neutralizing the Ph levels of water after removing pollution helped encourage the growth and lifespan of some fresh water plants.

Eighth graders Katerina Ringes and Marina Renzi received a special award in the “Team-Biological” division by the CT Science Supervisors Association for their project, The Effect of Electromagnetic Fields on Scenedesmus Algae Cells. Algae is being considered as an alternative fuel and food source, so the students wanted to determine if the growth of algae was affected by exposure to increasing electromagnetic fields. They grew algae in test tubes and exposed it to electromagnetic fields of different strengths.

The Connecticut Science Fair aims to attract young people to careers in science, while developing skills essential to critical thinking. Through science fair participation, students are encouraged to pursue independent work using proper research methods. The Science Fair continues this year’s strong showing for science competition projects completed and submitted by St. Rose students. Seventeen St. Rose middle-school students were recognized or chosen as finalists in this year’s Science Horizons competition, and the seven students who qualified to compete in the statewide competition are Herrick, Cirone, Brubaker, Ringes and Renzi, along with 8^th grader Dominic Pagliaro, and 7^th grader Ashley Wagnblas. St. Rose of Lima’s participation is coordinated by middle school science teacher Marde Dimon, and students are allowed to identify and work with scientist mentors on their projects.

About St. Rose of Lima School

Saint Rose of Lima School, located in Newtown, Connecticut, is a nationally recognized, NEASC-accredited Pre-K through grade eight Roman Catholic school that educates the whole child. We offer an intellectually challenging curriculum in a faith-based environment designed to foster the virtues of individual integrity and service to others. Our faculty, parents, clergy and parish community work together to empower students to succeed in a learning environment where Christ is the cornerstone. For more information, visit www.stroseschool.com