Mt. Hope Student Scientists Show Off Their Work

Slides covered in bacteria, model brains, and mind control tricks were just some of the 85 projects displayed at the annual  science fair Thursday. The fair, representing all four grades at the high school, was hosted by the science department, and hosted around 20 judges from throughout the community.

“I am very impressed with some of the projects I’ve seen,” said Jackie Reynolds, extended day teacher at the school.

There were many impressive projects displayed by up and coming scientists. Senior Katrina Ezikovich researched phi, the ratio of 1:1.618, and its appearance in nature, specifically in human body proportions. Through her research and testing, she found that 65% of her subjects had the “golden” ratio.

“Phi is found all throughout nature,” Ezikovich explained, “and my hypothesis was that a big percent of people would have the ratio.”

Allyiah Benford, a freshman, looked into something a bit more recognizable; cleaning products.

“I made my own cleaner out of spices!” she said.

Her cleaner, which included lemon, garlic, and a variety of spices, worked better at killing germs than Lysol, according to her tests.

While Ezikovich and Benford researched things we see everyday, other students tried creating something entirely new. Senior Mariana McCormack, an athlete, wanted to find a better solution to every athlete’s best friend, the ice pack.

“I wanted to make something that was flexible and reusable, but also wasn’t harmful to your skin,” she said.

Her research led her to mealworms, which contain an antifreeze protein.

“I had to grind them up. They were alive. It was so disgusting,” she laughed. 

After extracting the protein and some serious science, McCormack created the “Bio Kool 3.”

“No one had done anything like this before, so it was really hard to find research,” she explained.

All the hard work in the previous months clearly paid off, as judges were seemingly impressed with many of the projects that lined table after table in the school cafeteria. Students competed for the “Principal’s Favorite” and “Best in Show” trophies, along with ribbons, and most importantly, a trip to the state science fair, to be held at CCRI in late March.

Blue Ribbon winners for the fair were Victoria  DaSilva, Zack  Defreitas, Amanda Ignacio & Rachel Whiting, Jeffrey MacDonough, Mariana  McCormack, Emma  Pattie, Olivia Phillips and Samantha Robillard. Nick Murgo received the "Best of Fair" award and Demetre Ellinwood received the "Principal's Award". All winners will compete at the Rhode Island Science and Engineering Fair in March.