Two Emerson Elementary School fifth graders received ratings of Superior at The Ohio Academy of Science 2017 State Science Day held at The Ohio State University on May 13. To earn this honor, Samson Gurgiolo and Katy Mowery presented original scientific research in Aeronautics and Botany, respectively. The Ohio Academy of Science judges projects based on students’ knowledge, presentation, creativity, and use of the scientific method.
Competition at the State Science Day was the end of a long road, which began in November of 2016 when Jennifer Findell’s fifth grade classes were given the assignment to design and complete a scientific study on a subject of their own choosing. In February, students competed at the Westerville Middle School Science Day. Mowery and Gurgiolo, along with their Emerson schoolmates James Weaver, Daniel Dewey, Daine Cochern, Ellie Luba, and Katie Lovelace, earned ratings of superior and qualified for the District Seven Science Day, which was held on March 18.
Success continued for Mowery and Gurgiolo at the district event. Not only were their projects judged Superior, but both also received sponsored awards. Mowery received a certificate and one hundred dollars from the Soybean Council, while Gurgiolo was awarded a crystal trophy and seventy-five dollars from The Central Ohio Professional Aviation Maintenance Association. State Science Day sponsored awards have not yet been announced, but these two Westerville fifth graders are in contention.