Local instructor Melanie Hardy had plenty to celebrate during the most recent school year at the Yazoo County Middle School. Not only was she selected to participate in a national STEAM program among some of the top educators within the country, but several of her students were also recognized regionally with their science fair entries.
“These students went above and beyond,” Hardy said, surrounded by seven of her students, four of which won first through third place honors. “They chose to participate in this science fair, and that is what makes them so special. This was nothing required. They wanted to do this.”
Four sixth graders, two seventh graders and one eighth grader participated in the regional science fair at Delta State University earlier last school year. First through third place winners were able to advance to the state level.
The Yazoo County Middle School students who placed include:
• Levi Self, seventh grade, The Forensic Experiment; second place at Region III Science and Engineering Upper Fair at DSU; competed at state level at Ole Miss
• Canecianna Genous, eighth grade, Oral Bacteria; second place at Region III Science and Engineering Upper Fair at DSU
• Deasia Jones, seventh grade, Soda's Effects on the Human Body
• Bryson Crozier, sixth grade, Solar Oven; first place at Region III Science and Engineering Lower Fair at DSU
• Mollie Blackwell, sixth grade, Blood Types; third place at Region III Science and Engineering Lower Fair at DSU
• John Phillip Ketchem, sixth grade, Holy Moldy
• Johnathan Jasso-Aria, sixth grade, Light is Flight
Yazoo County Middle School was well represented during the science fair competition, with all students excited to showcase their entries among their peers.
“I felt like my project was unique because it wasn’t a common topic,” said Self, on his forensic experiment. “When you see it, the topic catches your eye, so I think that helped with the judges.”
Genous was eager to test the theory if dogs’ mouths were cleaner than humans. And Jones wanted to approach a project from a healthy proposition.
“A lot of health problems come from drinking sodas, so I dropped eggshells in different sodas like Coke, Fanta and Sprite to see which one did the most damage within 48 hours,” Jones said. “The worst one? Coke.”
Crozier was able to determine the best way to cook with solar ovens, discovering using black paper worked best in cooking marshmallows. Blackwell dedicated her project to highlighting the dangers of mixing blood types. Ketchum experimented with molds. And Jasso-Aria constructed paper planes, researching what paper works best for the ultimate flight.
Most of the students are involved in other activities that keep them busy. For example, Crozier enjoys basketball, baseball and football. Ketchum enjoys video games. Jones likes to attend rodeos. And Genous and Blackwell both enjoy cheer.
But there is something about science that keeps the seven students interested even when the class is over.
“My mom teaches microbiology, so she encourages me to look deeper into science,” Genous said. “But I enjoy it a lot.”
“Maybe it’s a career path,” added Self.
In other local science news, Hardy was also selected to participate in the Teacher Innovator Institute at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
The Teacher Innovator Institute teaches middle-school educators how to bring the museum experience into their classrooms by exploring connections between informal STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education and authentic learning. The two-week immersive program welcomes over 60 teachers from across the country.
The program will include hands-on activities, museum tours, behind-the-scenes museum experiences, visits to other museums and group work. Teachers will benefit from the expertise of museum educators and content experts and be able to use aerospace science, history and technology to shape their ideas about authentic learning and bring informal education techniques to their classrooms.
Along with her dedicated students already making their own scientific paths, the future looks bright for Hardy and her students at the Yazoo County Middle School. They have the awards to show for their hard work. And heads filled with dreams and other experiments on the horizon.
