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Dolores students showcase science fair projects

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Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014 6:08 PM
Madison Rodriguez talks about her project with plants at the Dolores Science Fair on Thursday, Dec. 11.
Jeremiah Torres displays his soil cups for his experiment at the Dolores Science Fair on Thursday, Dec. 11.
Hyram McNeill discusses his wind energy project for the Dolores Science Fair.

Nervous sixth-, seventh- and a few eighth-graders filled the Dolores Main Gymnasium last Thursday, along with over 100 science fair projects.

It was the annual Dolores Middle School Science Fair, and students were anxiously awaiting judges to interview them about their projects, some of which took students months to complete.

Renae Zwicker, a seventh-grader, did her science fair project on irrigation and what types work best.

She and partner Jessa Springer discovered that flood irrigation worked best when it came to crop growth.

"This would be useful in the world because it would help farmers grow their crops best," Zwicker said.

About 110 projects lined the bleachers in the gymnasium. Sixth-graders were all required to do projects by themselves, seventh-graders could do projects with a partner, and eighth-graders could do a project but were not required to do so. All of the students answered burning questions.

Such as:

"What color bird feeder do birds like best?"

"Do expensive socks last longer than cheap socks?"

"Do females or males have more self control when it comes to a bowl of candy?"

When it comes to the bird question, students Winter Holly and Taylor Minor seemed to know the answers.

The duo painted bird feeders different colors and sat back and waited to see which one the birds flocked to and ate the most out of.

The answer was surprising.

"The birds liked the dark blue the best," Minor said.

When it comes to socks, Malaki Lewis and Isabel McNeill seemed to be the experts.

Their answer was also surprising.

They tested a variety of different socks.

"The price does not affect the wear of the socks," McNeill said.

In fact, the more expensive socks actually wore out faster the girls discovered.

And as far as who has more self control, well, according to the a group of sixth-graders tested, it was the girls. According to results, one out of every 10 girls ate candy in the bowl, while three out of every 10 boys ate from the bowl.

Generally, the fair was a success, organizers said.

"I think they did a really good job this year," science teacher Kris Schurr. "They followed the scientific method really well this year."

Dylan Barb and Jacob Haley took the Mentos dropped into soda trick to a whole new level. Typically the Mentos are dropped into diet soda, but the boys discovered that if you want a really big geyser, albeit a sticky one, you need Mountain Dew.

"The Mountain Dew definitely shot the highest," Barb said.

When it comes to science, the two boys said their project wasn't too bad.

"We actually had fun," Haley said.

Sixth-grader Hyrum McNeill was thrilled to show of his wind turbine designs.

All kids who received a ribbon will get to go to regional science fair, Thursday, March 6 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.

The students were judged by high school science students and awards were given and the fair was open to the public for view Thursday night.

Dolores Science Fair Results

Best of Show
McKenzy Howerton and Jordan Elder: Got Dirt? Coagulation Experimentation
Sixth Grade
First place
Justin Brunner: Get the 10X
Kevin Purkat: Fishing Knots
Second place
Molly Dickinson: If There is No Power, You Can Make Your Own
Elizabeth Frederick: Vitamin D3 and Plant Growth
Third place
Camden Malloy: Bioluminescence
Devon McHenry: What Soil Holds Water Best
Keegan Spurlock: MADD
Honorable mention
Annaluna Grandt: What Solvents Get Permanent Stains Out Best!
Timothy Wyman: Paper Shape and Air Planes Distance
Regan Pierce: Which Material Keeps You the Warmest?
Hayden Tallmadge: Strength of Diameter
Chance Wilber: The Great Crystal Race
Seventh grade
First place
Madison Rodriguez and Kylie Britenbach: Live Your Life to its Fullest with Healthier Water Consumption
Madison Langford and Paige Featherman: Too High or Too Low
Second place
Alden Adams and Tyler Cutrone: Fire Pit Efficiency
Allison Alverez: Plants Rock
Third place
Rubi Becker and Nissa Nash: Right or Left
Lupin Stephens: Plant vs Water
Honorable mention
Dara Suckla: Growth Showdown
Wade Charles: Bright Ideas
Rebeckah Carpenter: Oxygenated or Not
Kaleb Barkhurst: That's Steep
Eighth grade
First pace
Neil Farias and Cameron Chavez: .22

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