Northbrook Junior High Brings Home 3rd At State Science Fair

NORTHBROOK, IL — It was an exciting weekend for 17 Northbrook Junior High School students and their teachers at the Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Fair. The students finished third as a team at the competition April 28-29 at SIU-Carbondale. They also brought home 12 gold, four silver and one bronze individual awards.

NBJH student scientists made their mark Saturday, April 29 at the @IJAS Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Fair at SIU-Carbondale, bringing home a third-place team trophy along with 12 gold, four silver and one bronze individual award.

According to Northbrook District 28, the students developed their projects during a semester-long Independent Science Research class mentored by teachers Lauren Johnson, Amber Paull and Fredrick Yoon. They presented their projects to a panel of two judges.

Special awards included:

• Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge Award: Zack Schwarcz, Aaria Mehta, Lily Smolik, and Lily Musslewhite
• SIU STEM Education Award: Lily Smolik
• SIU School of Medicine Award: Lauren Yoon
• Naval Science Award: Henry Gartz

"Each student did an amazing job at this competition. They have worked hard all year and we are so proud of them," Johnson said.

IJAS projects give students a taste of real-world research, looking into the problems and methods of thinking that are particular to the scientist, according to the IJAS website.