Northbrook Junior High School Excels At State Science Fair

NORTHBROOK, IL — A group of Northbrook Junior High School returned home from a state science fair last weekend with plenty of gold and silver. In all, the independent science research students, consisting of seventh and eight-graders, won 18 gold and five silver awards at the Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Fair on Saturday in Decatur.

"This group consistently worked hard. They love science, they asked wonderful, thoughtful questions, and they worked together so well. Our ISR students learned so many skills and I have no doubt they will use them as they move on to high school," said Amber Paull, a science teacher at the school.

Annually, NBJH students participate in the science fair by taking a semester-long course in which students have the opportunity to pursue their own interests in a research project following the scientific method. Science teachers Lauren Johnson, Fred Yoon, along with Paull. guide the students through their projects, according to Northbrook District 28.

Judges evaluate the oral presentation, the written work and scientific method of the experiments based on the Illinois Jr. Academy of Science rubric. Students who receive a silver or gold award can advance to a regional science fair and then state.

In addition to the gold and silver awards, several students received special recognition. Special awards included:

• Exceptional Project in Category (EPIC) — Henry Gartz (Aerospace), Simon Pick (Environmental Science)
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge Award (Top 10 percent, Invitation to more competitions) — Maggie Griffith, Eric McCaughan, Simon Pick, Gia Swinger
• Exceptional Project in Agriculture (presented by Ball Seed Company) - Eric McCaughan
• Illinois Soybean Association Second Place in Microbiology - Evan Silver-Schack
• Illinois Soybean Association First Place in Behavioral Science - Gia Swinger
• Illinois Soybean Association First Place in Electronics - Olivia Pekala