Photo Provided Chosen as the top Science Fair project was that of Emma Conners, a 12th grade student from East Richland Christian School. Her project titled “How Calcium and Magnesium Affect Soybean Germination During Moderate and Heavy Water Conditions With and Without Inoculation” received the Belmont College President’s Award. She is pictured here, center, with Chris Clantz, professor of natural science and science fair coordinator, left, and President Paul Gasparro.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — For more than 26 years, students from local schools have displayed hundreds of science projects at Belmont College. This year, due to COVID-19, judging was done a little differently with student’s science fair projects were judged virtually.

In a virtual meeting of the Junior Academy Council, it was decided that the registration platform, STEM Wizard, would be adapted to offer a portal for virtual science fairs across the 17 districts in Ohio. Students were given additional time, but were asked to upload additional resources for judging, which included:

∫ An enhanced report that would include their Abstract, Research Plan, Collected Data, Discussion of the Results, and Conclusions.

∫ Answers to a series of specific questions taken from the virtual judging rubric.

∫ A quality photo of their poster display, capturing all the details in focus.

∫ A short You-Tube video of their presentation (6 to 8 minutes).

Virtual judges were then asked to register through STEM Wizard and were assigned four to five student projects to evaluate and score. As in the traditional fair format, each project was judged by two individuals and the scores were then averaged. Judging took place from March 12-23. Results were released on April 20.

In total, 27 students from local schools competed in the 2021 District Science Fair.

Students from the following schools participated: Bishop John King Mussio Central Jr. High; Bishop John King Mussio Rosemont Campus; East Richland Christian; and St. Mary Central Martins Ferry.

The District Science Fair is for students who have participated in and achieved superior scores in their school fairs or have been selected by their teachers as having exceptional projects. These projects are judged again by more rigorous standards, and the top projects among all displayed are recognized and rewarded with superior ratings and special awards sponsored by a variety of donors. The very top students are then selected to represent District 16 at the state-level competition during virtual project judging held from May 10-19.

The following students received superior ratings this year and are eligible to represent District 16 at the state-level of competition:

Bishop John King Mussio Central Jr. High: Mary Rohde;

Bishop John King Mussio Rosemont Campus: Scarlett Buchanan; Delaney Dankert;

East Richland Christian: Emma Conners; Danica Stoffer; Abram Miller;

St. Mary Central Martins Ferry: Graham Stecker; Olivia Stephens.

Chosen as the top project was that of Emma Conners, a 12th grade student from East Richland Christian. Her project titled “How Calcium and Magnesium Affect Soybean Germination During Moderate and Heavy Water Conditions With and Without Inoculation” received the Belmont College President’s Award.

Additionally, Mary Rohde, a seventh grade student from Bishop John King Mussio Central JS won the runner-up Excellence in Science Award for her project “How does Peppermint, Chili Pepper, Corn, and Lavender Oil Treated Soil Affect Early Soybean Growth?”

The following students received awards and recognition:

∫ Danica Stoffer from East Richland Christian School-St Clairsville was awarded:

Belmont College: Award in Animal Science

Continuing Project Award, sponsored by Linda and David Dunlap and the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program.

Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program: Project Design Award

∫ Abram Miller from East Richland Christian School-St Clairsville was awarded:

Belmont College: Math Award for Statistical Analysis

Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program: Project Design Award

∫ Emma Conners from East Richland Christian School-St Clairsville was awarded:

Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award

Continuing Project Award, sponsored by Linda and David Dunlap and the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program.

Belmont College: Award in Plant Science

Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program: Project Design Award

Ohio Soybean Council Biosciences Award

∫ Olivia Stephens from St Mary Central-Martins Ferry was awarded:

M.J Piccin Memorial Award

Phillip Skinner Memorial Award

Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program: Project Design Award

Graham Stecker from St Mary Central-Martins Ferry was awarded:

M.J Piccin Memorial Award

Phillip Skinner Memorial Award

Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program: Project Design Award

∫ Paul Stecker III from St Mary Central-Martins Ferry was awarded:

Belmont College: Math Award for Statistical Analysis

∫ John Adamsky from St Mary Central-Martins Ferry was awarded:

Belmont College: 5th Grade Award for Excellence

∫ Keyuri Morgan from St Mary Central-Martins Ferry was selected as a recipient of an award from the Ohio Water Environment Association.

∫ Mary Rohde from Bishop John King Mussio Central JS-Steubenville was awarded:

Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award

Belmont College: Award in Plant Science

Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program: Project Design Award

Ohio Soybean Council Biosciences Award

∫ Scarlett Buchanan from Bishop John King Mussio Rosemont Campus-Steubenville was awarded:

Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award

Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program: Project Design Award

∫ Delaney Dankert from Bishop John King Mussio Rosemont Campus-Steubenville was awarded:

Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Award

Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program: Project Design Award

∫ Gianna Lemal from Bishop John King Mussio Rosemont Campus-Steubenville was awarded:

Belmont College: 6th Grade Award for Excellence

The college extends special thanks to the sponsors for remaining steadfast in their support as we have adapted our fair to the special circumstances of the pandemic over the last two years:

Belmont College and President Paul Gasparro;

Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh;

Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program;

Mrs. Margaret M. Piccin (M.J Piccin Memorial Award);

Linda and David Dunlap (Phillip Skinner Memorial Award) (Continuing project award);

American Electric Power;

Southeast Ohio Water Environment Association;

The Ohio Soybean Council Foundation; and

District 16 Science Fair Council.