Woodhull Science Fair Leads to Honors
This year’s Woodhull Intermediate School science fair featured dozens of interesting and informative projects that allowed students to engage in wide-ranging research and draw intriguing results.
Woodhull science teachers Allison Von Vange, Paul Esposito and Mark Helstrom were pleased to see the depth of research conducted by students and were impressed with how much time the youngsters devoted to their projects.
The annual sixth grade event is eagerly anticipated by students, who always seem to come through with projects that captivate their classmates and teachers alike. This year was no exception with a wonderful assortment of inspiring hypotheses, procedures and analysis.
Participants developed presentation boards that summarized their research. Seeing over 300 posters arranged on long tables in the school gym was an impressive site to behold. Woodhull students toured the fair during the regular school day and then the doors swung open for parents during an evening hour.
Keenan Lyons captured first place for “Hydroponics: Growing without Soil” project. The youngster established two sets of lettuce gardens, including one that utilized hydroponics (water) and another using traditional soil. Mr. Lyons’ results showed that in height, size and weight, hydroponic gardening yields larger plants and are faster growing.
Second place finisher Bryce Vitulli deftly displayed his research on how age effects short term memory in his project titled “Has Anyone Seen My.....” The sixth grader tested short-term memory recall with participants by gender and age and showed that females between the ages of 20-30 have the best memory.
Cole Pillion earned third place after proving people change their behavior when they know they’re being watched in a project titled “Will You Do the Right Thing?” The youngster positioned himself so he was visible to cars approaching a stop sign and also hid from cars, but noted their adherence to traffic law. Mr. Pillion’s results showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that people overwhelmingly do the right thing when being observed.
Josefina Fasalino, Jason Verville, Brandon Varady, Zubair Ali, Madelyn Kye, Anna Wickey, Carley Stevens, Abigail Holmes and Isabella Neira garnered honorable mention recognition.
Messrs. Lyons, Vitulli and Pillion advanced to Brookhaven National Lab’s annual science fair, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this spring. More than 500 Long Island students qualified for the 2014 fair. The Woodhull trio was given ribbons and certificates of commendation by BNL science fair offices.
All entrants were awarded a ribbon and certificate of commendation. Messrs. Vitulli and Pillion went on to win honorable mention medals for their projects. VA big congratulations go to Bryce and Cole who also received honorable mention medals for their wonderful work.
“We are so proud of our Brookhaven participants,” Mr. Helstrom said. “It is especially meaningful to see Keenan’s, Bryce’s, and Cole’s hard work recognized by the Brookhaven judging committee.”
The three honorees have been attending school together since their days in kindergarten at Flower Hill Primary School. They plan to move on to J. Taylor Finley Middle School next fall, where they can be expected to put their knowledge and curiosity and penchant for innovation to good use.