CRANE - Last month, area students showcased more than 160 projects during the 33rd Annual Team Crane Science Fair held at WestGate Academy. In addition to the science fair, which was open to students in junior high and high school, fifth grade classes were invited to come get a taste of what science fairs are like.

"With last year's science fair, we added a fifth grade field trip for the first time," said Kim Frazier, director of business operations for STIMULUS Engineering, adding that 170 students from North Daviess Elementary and Bloomfield were invited to take part this year.

"The idea was to let the fifth graders be introduced to the science fair in a fun way with the intent that they are more likely to participate with their own project in the future."

Frazier said students toured learning centers, looked at projects, participated in fire safety demonstrations with the Naval Support Activity Crane Fire Department and completed several science, technology, engineering and math or STEM activities.

Learning centers included NSA Crane Environmental Division, the Battery Innovation Center, Ivy Tech, Greene County Hospital, NSWC Crane Maritime Electronic Warfare Division, Vincennes University math, engineering, and physics departments, VU geoscience, Wonderlab, Crane Army Ammunition Activity, FIRST Robotics, FIRST Tech and Seaperch, Small Arms, and West Boggs Park.

STEM activities were offered by Wonderlab which brought scribble bots, a gravity wall and the pyramid challenge for students and the Battery Innovation Center offered the Power and Energy Challenge.

Ben Wrightsman, chief operating officer for the Battery Innovation Center, said the Power and Energy Challenge was something new.

"As part of our commitment to the community and STEM education, we have been developing the Power and Energy Challenge," he said, adding the day of the science fair was the first time the session had been tested with students. "The students learned the difference between power and energy, while making batteries out of common household items and performing tests."

Wrightsman said he was surprised by how interested and engaged students were.

"It was amazing to see their reactions and hear their feedback on making batteries," he said.

The Greene County Master Gardeners and Martin County Beekeepers also provided learning opportunities for students.

The fifth grade field trips were sponsored by STIMULUS Engineering, Battery Innovation Center, Bloombank and the Daviess County Economic Development Foundation.

Science fair projects were divided into seven categories: behavioral science, biology, chemistry, consumer science, environmental science, inventions and physics. North Daviess, Shoals and Washington Catholic schools were represented in the contest that was sponsored by AOC, CEOT, Crane Federal Credit Union, Donald and Mariette House, FEW - Hoosier Hills, Greene County General Hospital, McKean, Paragon Force, SAIC, Society of Women Engineers, Springs Valley, STIMULUS Engineering, Structurepoint, TriStar, Vincennes University and WG Authority.

Local winners were Lydia Cook, Shoals Elementary (first place, junior division consumer science); Brooke Dobson and Emma Hert, Shoals Junior High (third place, consumer science junior division); Abigail Giesler, North Daviess Junior High (second place, environmental science junior division); Haley Blevins, North Daviess Junior High (third place, environmental science junior division); Alex Tedrow Shoals High School (first place, behavioral science senior division); Jeffrey Mayfield, North Daviess High School (second place, behavioral science senior division); Britton Helms, North Daviess High School (third place, behavioral science senior division); Lindsey Robinson, Shoals High School (first place, biology senior division); Abby Stoll, Shoals High School (second place, biology senior division).

Also, Emilee Wagler, Shoals High School (third place, biology senior division); Mattie Lawyer, North Daviess High School (first place, chemistry senior division); Whitney Watkins, North Daviess High School (second place, chemistry senior division); Megan Lampert, Shoals High School (third place chemistry senior division); Elise Jerrels, North Daviess High School (first place consumer science senior division); Amelia Cooper, Shoals High School (third place, consumer science senior division); Nicholas Walker, Washington Catholic (first place physics senior division); Shom Berry, North Daviess High School (second place, physics senior division); Allison Boyd, Shoals High School (third place, physics senior division); Jonathon Ritter, North Daviess High School (first place, environmental science senior division); Rusty Bonham and Shoals High School (second place, environmental science senior division).

"After attending the science fair at the WestGate Academy for students from the region, I firmly believe the key to Daviess County's future is to expose our children to the opportunities that exist in Daviess County and beyond," said Natalie Smith, project manager at the Daviess County Economic Development Foundation. "This event starts that process with those children at a very young age. I was certainly impressed by the apparent high level of topics chosen and the time and effort the students put into their projects."

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