VERNAL, Utah — Utah State University Uintah Basin hosted more than 160 local middle school students from schools in Uintah, Duchesne and Carbon counties this month for the school district’s annual science fair of Uintah.
USU Uintah Basin faculty, in collaboration with a committee of local Uintah K-12 school district educators and administrators, organized the event. The science fair was held Jan. 16 at the Uintah Conference Center in Vernal.
The science fair was divided into four categories: engineering, biological sciences, physical sciences and social sciences in three grades (6th, 7th and 8th). The projects were judged and prizes were awarded to the top three in each level.
“Since its beginnings on the USU Vernal campus more than a decade ago, the Uintah Basin Middle School Science Fair has become a wonderful opportunity for local middle and high school students to conduct and share their own research scientists with the community, with the winners qualifying. to later present at state and even national science fairs,” said Mike Christiansen, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at USU Uintah Basin and one of the fair’s organizers.
The local science fair was founded by former USU Uintah Basin professor Lianna Etchberger and has been supported by USU since its inception in 2012. The event has grown from a small gathering on the Vernal campus from USU Uintah Basin to the large-scale event it is today. , leading to its move to the Uintah Conference Center in 2017. Before being housed at Vernal, local students had to travel long distances to find a fair that could qualify for state and national competitions.
“Over the years, several hundred students have participated and deeply enjoyed their experience,” Christiansen said. “Having seen their smiling faces each year, I believe the fair has brought them and their families great personal joy. I also gained a deep sense of satisfaction working with a collaborative team of dozens of exceptional local educators to help me organize and execute this incredible annual event. Many thanks to them and their students for all their hard work each year.
The winners now qualify to participate in the regional competition Ritchey Junior Science and Engineering Fairwhich will take place March 13 at Weber State University in Ogden.
Uintah School District Junior Science Fair Winners
Engineering: Moses LeBeau (6th grade), Ember Zufelt (7th grade), Melody Liebhardt (8th grade)
Biological Sciences: Emalee Purcell (6th grade), Austin Taylor (7th grade), Tyler Huber (8th grade)
Physical Sciences: Leah Wells (6th grade), Cristin Halverson (7th grade), Morris Stewart (8th grade)
Social Studies: Paizlee Seamons (Grade 6), Paisley Johnson (Grade 7), Shayanne Ulwelling (Grade 8)
The following students received community awards presented by community partners who support the science fair:
- Kimber Farnsworth, Tyler Huber and Sophie Batty (Frontier Solutions)
- David Pierce (USU Bingham Research Center)
- Ember Zufelt and Sam Hirschi (Deseret Power)
- Moses LeBeau, Cooper Wilson, Ryker Janowicz and Cole Murphy (BHI)
- Austin Taylor, Cristin Halverson, Kimber Farnsworth, Ember Zufelt and Tyce Stilson (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)
- Treyson Farrer, David Pierce, Megan Glazier, Gentry Weeks, Fiona Faucher and Ruby Batty (Uintah School District)
- Sam Pierce and Austin Taylor (US Fish and Wildlife Service)
- Avery Wood and Ruby Batty (Ashley Regional Medical Center)
- Analyn Pead, Jane Simmons and Deenylah Tilo (Pepsi)
- Nadia Wong, Gavin Christensen, Rylan and McDonald (Friends of Utah Field House)
- Easton Labrum, Ben Shiner and Sullivan Olson (UBTECH SkillsUSA chapter)
Operating campuses in Vernal and Roosevelt for more than 50 years, Utah State University Uintah Basin offers students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university, all in the backdrop of the outdoor oasis that is the Uinta Mountains and the Ashley National Forest. With degree options ranging from associate degree to doctoral degree and more than 125 programs available, as well as access to the renowned Bingham Research Center, USU Uintah Basin offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more about uintahbasin.usu.edu.