T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Local students who won at the Ohio State Science Fair in Columbus pose with the Belmont County Board of Commissioners. From left front are: Amos Miller, Halle Baum and Thomas Mullen. Second row: East Richland Christian School Principal Kari Yockey, Berea Miller and Jackson Parsons. Third row: Elizabeth Bolen, Hayden Weaver and Charles Gooch.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Local students who won honors during the Ohio State Science Day in Columbus met with the Belmont County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday to celebrate their success.

The eight local winners are all students at East Richland Christian School. Commissioner Jerry Echemann started the meeting by congratulating the winners on their accomplishments. He also asked for a teacher to speak about what goes on at the school level with the projects. Newly appointed Principal Kari Yockey then addressed the commissioners.

“Last year I had the privilege to work with our fifth- and sixth-graders in science, and for years before that I did seventh and eighth grade science. These kids work hard, and I’m so very proud of their effort,” Yockey said. “This year we actually started earlier. We start in our second nine weeks and start the process of scientific method.”

She added that not only do the projects focus on science, but they span the English and science curriculum.

“It’s just a big project, and our parents work together with the kids to understand the process,” she said.

She added that East Richland Christian School is blessed to have had such a large presence at State Science Day as well as strong participation at the local level. Although East Richland Christian School is small, averaging a total of 200 students in pre-K through 12th grade, over 60 participated in the science fair at the local level.

To make it to State Science Day, the students first had to participate in a local science fair then move on to a district science fair and then the state science fair. To participate in State Science Day, the students first had to receive a superior district award.

“There’s several steps, and I’m just really proud of our kids that got to come today and represent our school,” Yockey said.

Echemann responded to Yockey by noting that his son Spencer Echemann, a Martins Ferry councilman, is a judge at the district science fair. He also asked her if the students are assigned projects or if they are allowed to choose the topic for their project.

“Yeah, they come up with it and we just try to guide them,” she replied. “They come up with their own topics and projects of what they’re interested in.”

Commissioner J.P. Dutton added, “I’ve only been here for a couple of years, but it seems as though this program has grown. Can you kind of speak to how the program’s developed over the years?”

Yockey said that a lot of the growth of the program can be attributed to Jane Powell, a teacher who recently retired from East Richland Christian School. She also credited the school’s administrator, April Woods.

“They have both helped evolve this program,” she said. “But it is a requirement for our students from fifth through eighth grade.”

The board then called for approval of a resolution in recognition of State Science Day.

“The Belmont County Board of Commissioners consider it a privilege to recognize the best and brightest our county has to offer, and encourages all citizens of Belmont County to join in extending congratulations to the Belmont County students for their achievements while participating in the 2024 State Science Day and to be adopted this 14 day of August, 2024,” the resolution states.