Students who competed at the Central Regional and Western Regional fairs include (l-r): Mason McGreer, Emily Cornelius, Ava Seger, Hannah Bishop, Jacueline Gloy, Cooper Kroeker and Eric Gonzalez.
Students earn numerous awards at regional science fairs
Seven students across six projects earned many awards after the regional science fairs in late February and mid-March, and three students continued on to compete in the state science fair April 1.
There were two regional science fairs that top placers from the Perkins County science fair could compete at: the Central Regional fair on Feb. 24 in Curtis, Neb. and the Western Regional fair on Mar. 15 in Kearney, Neb.
Hannah Bishop, Emily Cornelius, Jacqueline Gloy, Eric Gonzalez, Cooper Kroeker, Mason McGreer and Ava Seger all competed at the regional fairs.
The school held an award ceremony April 1 where the seven students who competed at regionals were given their awards.
At the Western Regional fair, the top six junior projects are able to move on to the state competition, and out of the top six, three of the students came from Perkins County Schools: Cooper Kroeker, Jacqueline Gloy and Eric Gonzalez.
There are three ribbons students could earn at each fair as well. Purple ribbons were for those who game exemplary presentations, blue ribbons for above average presentations, and red ribbons for presentations that met expected standards.
Kroeker, Gloy and Gonzalez were all given purple ribbons at the Western Regional fair, Emily Cornelius earned a blue ribbon. Mason McGreer, along with Hannah Bishop and Ava Seger’s group project received red ribbons.
Gonzalez, Gloy, Cornelius, Bishop and Seger all earned a purple ribbon at the Central Regional Fair, and Cornelius also earned a blue ribbon.
At the Central Regional Fair, there are a variety of awards given besides the standard ribbons.
The United States Agricultural Award for outstanding agricultural-related projects was given to Kroeker.
The Office of Naval Research award, which sponsors science research for the Navy and Marines, was given to Gonzalez, Gloy and Cornelius.
The United States Air Force award for outstanding scientific research was awarded to Gonzalez and Gloy.
Gonzalez also received the Ricoh Corporation’s award. Ricoh Corporation of New Jersey selected one student from all the general award categories whose principles and technical innovations offer the greatest potential for an increase in the ability to grow environmentally friendly and socially responsible businesses.
Broadcom Masters Nominees, selected from the top 10 junior division projects, will compete for a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. to present their projects. Perkins County students who were selected were Cornelius, Gonzalez, Gloy, Bishop and Seger.
Two Perkins County students were awarded for their outstanding projects in the areas of habitat, surface to groundwater, waste management soil management and air quality. The Nebraska Environmental Trust $75 award was given to Bishop and Seger, and the $150 was awarded to Gonzalez.
Finally, winners of the 2021 Central Regional Science and Engineering Fair $100 award given to the top three junior division projects were Gonzalez and Gloy.
The state competition was April 1 in Lincoln, though the competition was virtual. Jennifer Gonzalez of PCS said they have not yet received the results of the fair.
The competition to move on to Nationals in Washington D.C. will take place June 6.