Students participate in Salt Lake Valley Science Fair

SALT LAKE CITY — Students from Catholic schools within the Diocese of Salt Lake City participated in the Salt Lake Valley Science and Engineering Fair (SLVSEF) March 26-27. They were among more than 300 who showcased their projects and competed for scholarships.

The Utah Science Center and the University of Utah hosted the 2009 SLVSEF at The Tower at Rice-Eccles Stadium, in Salt Lake City. The 2009 SLVSEF expanded this year to include students from the Park City School District and the Catholic diocese, along with students from Granite, Salt Lake City, Murray, and Tooele School Districts. In addition, there were several exhibits on display from the Leonardo on Wheels Science Center.

The SLVSEF provides opportunities for students to win scholarships. Westminster College offered five $80,000 scholarships to senior division winners, and $4,000 scholarships to all junior and senior students who competed. The top high school winners from the event were invited to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which is the world’s largest pre-college science fair.

SLVSEF has been run by the Utah Science Center since January 2005, and is an annual science competition for students in fifth through twelfth grades.

There were 11 students who participated from the Diocese of Salt Lake City in the SLVSEF in the following categories. Lucius Bynum from the Madeleine Choir School participated in Mathematical Sciences. Carolyn Taylor from J. E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School participated in Engineering: Materials and Bioengineering. Nicole Gist from Saint John the Baptist Middle School, Draper, entered the Environmental Sciences category.

Jackie Morgan from J.E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School entered the Earth and Planetary Science; Behavioral and Social Sciences category. Ryan Atherton from Blessed Sacrament Catholic School entered the Environmental Sciences category.

Antona Yost from the Madeleine Choir School entered the Behavioral and Social Sciences category. Joshua Nielsen from Saint Francis Xavier Regional School participated in the Earth and Planetary Science category. Sierra Pond from J.E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School participated in the Earth and Planetary Science category.

Tony Martino and Mark Barnett from J.E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School entered the Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical category. Desdemona Roosta from Kearns-Saint Ann School entered the Microbiology category.

Students who placed were awarded trophies, cash prizes, internships, and other non-monetary recognition for their outstanding work.

The Utah Science Center emphasizes creative and active exploration of the worlds of science and technology. The science center endeavors to create a culture and environment for the development of critical thinking skills, curiosity, and creativity.

For more information, visit www.utahsciencecenter.org/sciencefair.