Students Push The Boundaries of Science

The 2013 East Windsor Regional School District’s Elementary Science Fair was held on Feb. 26, at the Kreps Middle School. 

Approximately 35 science projects representing four elementary schools were submitted, judged, and available for public viewing. Awards were announced as part of the evening’s festivities. 

The science fair is an academic competition designed to challenge students to rigorously apply science process skills and content knowledge in order to investigate scientific questions of their own choosing.  Participants also experience the importance of practicing science ethics and responsibility on a personal level.  Each participant is required to have an adult sponsor, complete a research protocol, and include a science abstract with their project submission.  

Students earning awards represented the East Windsor Regional School district at the Mercer County Science and Engineering Fair this month.

At the local level, Ethel McKnight fourth grade Bhavya Kilambi earned the top spot for her project titled "Balloon Car Racers.”  Ms. Kilambi’s project tested factors that affect speed and distance in a balloon powered car.  The project included manipulating variables in multiple trials to test and retest her hypothesis.  Ms. Kilambi recorded multiple tests and evaluated her data to present the best design for a balloon powered car.

Aneesh Acharya, a fifth grader at Perry L. Drew, was named the second prizewinner for his project titled "What is Your Washer Footprint?"  Aneesh tested the water use for an energy efficient washer after receiving consent from the manufacturer.  After numerous trials with the energy efficient machine, Aneesh stated in his abstract, “It is mind-blowing how much water is used in our daily life!”  

The third place prize went to Elizabeth Zegarowicz, a fifth grader at Grace Norton Rogers.  Through her project, “Choosing the Right Fuel for Your Engine”, Elizabeth examined whether a breakfast high in carbohydrates would affect athletic performance.  In her abstract, Elizabeth claimed, “Children are always told to eat a ‘good’ breakfast.  Does a one-size-fits-all balanced breakfast deliver the best performance for me?”  With her adult sponsor, Elizabeth conducted multiple trials and tests to examine the correlation between her athletic performance and her daily breakfast.     

In addition to the grand prize winners, several students received an honorable mention from the judges.  They include:  

• Ethan Rodrigues Prabhu  a fourth grade student at Perry L. Drew Elementary  
• Aadarsh Ramakrishnan a fifth grade student at Walter C. Black Elementary
• Manan Shah  a fifth grade student at Perry L. Drew Elementary  
• Katherine Brophy  a fourth grade students at Ethel McKnight Elementary
• Anjali Rabindran  a fourth grade student at Grace Norton Rogers  Elementary
• Nihar Biradar  a fourth grade student at Perry L. Drew Elementary  
• Rahul Shah  a fifth grade student at Walter C. Black Elementary

Twenty five additional students participated in the science fair.  They are as follows: Ethel McKnight School:  Siddarth Kerkar, Joel Simon, Justin Sabogal, Archit Mehta, Kashvi Mehta, Rithesh Rajasekar, Rithik Rajasekar, and Aashvi Parikh.

 Perry L. Drew School:  Sidhanth Shakelly, Aayush Gupta, Ashna Srivastava, Tharani Kannan, Rahul Iyengar, Haider Husaini, and Jerome Poravanthattil.

Walter C. Black School:  Shruti Subramanian, Sahithi Muthyala, Tarun Kumar, Shreya Pruanam, Tarun Chandanala, Lara Pavlovic, and Rajiv Srinath

All of the students were recognized by the Board of Education at the March 21, 2013 meeting.  The school district is very proud of every one of them and wishes them continued interest and success the field of science!