JCS launches upper elementary science fair

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

It's perhaps fitting that the cafeteria at Jefferson County K-12 (JCS) filled up on Wednesday, April 5, with science fair projects from the fourth and fifth grade classes. Many of the students did experiments about food!
Topics of interest to these students ranged from how temperature affects the freezing rate of water to how different types of liquid are absorbed by Gummy Bears to what type of chocolate candy melts fastest. Students inquired into buoyancy, solubility, propulsion, sogginess, fizziness and even if different types of music make a person eat faster.
Judges for this science fair brought impressive credentials and scientific know-how to the event. They included TCEC CEO Julius Hackett, TCEC Community Relations Director Kaitlynn Culpepper, NFC's STEM SEALS Grant Project Coordinator Lura Murfee, FAMU 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent Sabrina Hayes, FSU/FAMU Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Dr. Christian Hubicki and FSU/FAMU Mechanical Engineering Faculty Member Dr. Yousuf Ali.
Congratulations and praise were heaped on all students for their effort and enthusiasm in applying the scientific process to topics they found fascinating and relevant. After judging was completed, the winners were announced!
In fourth grade, the first place blue ribbon went to Alex Fernandez for the science fair experiment, “What's Popping?” The second place red ribbon was awarded to Amani Footman for “Which Ice Cream Melts the Fastest?” The third place white ribbon was awarded to Allanah Bellamy for the “The Coke Explosion.”
In fifth grade, Carter Rogers won first place in fifth grade for the science experiment, “Batteries.”
Mariyah Hagg won second place in fifth grade for “Got a Grease Problem?” Gabrielle White won third place in fifth grade for the science experiment, “How does the amount of air in a balloon rocket affect how far it flies?”
Students were treated to a video of the robot “Tallahassee Cassie” in action and talks by Dr. Hubicki and Dr. Ali.
JCS Principal Jackie Pons credited JCS Science Coach Christy Wilson for coordinating the upper elementary science fair.
“This is very exciting for us,” he said. “[Wilson's] love of science is contagious for everyone!”