Since nearly the beginning of the school year, Wessington Springs Elementary, Middle School (MS) and High School (HS) students have been preparing for an academic event that was held on Thursday, February 24 in the elementary school gymnasium; the science fair.
Our journalism class interviewed Mr. James Kruse, the MS/HS science teacher and asked him how long the students prepared for these projects. Kruse explained that the students started in September with choosing a project, researching and planning. He then explained that most students continued work on their projects and their finishing touches all the way up until the day before the science fair. Speaking on the fair overall, Kruse said, “It went really well, and the project quality was good.”
He also commented on how there were a lot of new judges this year and that they all did an exceptional job being consistent with each other. Kruse explained that 38 students from Wessington Springs were invited to the regional science fair in Brookings, South Dakota, where students from 33 counties in eastern South Dakota will attend.
The following students qualified for regional science fair in their respective divisions: In the Biology and Behavior Sciences Junior Division: Ella Fagerhaug, Mercedes Jones and Mahli Bresson placed first; Kerstynn Heim and Logan Mohling placed second; Paxton Walz placed third; Ella Kolousek, Anna Arhart and Brooklyn Caffee all received an honorable mention.
In the Junior Physical Science and Engineering Division: Zachary Kruse placed first; Wesley Molnar and Haiden Boschee placed second; Tregen Jensen and Luke Larson placed third; Will Grohs, Nolan Schaller, Hunter Heezen, Alicia Collins, Areannah Miller, Nichelle Kruse, Shayden Gregg and Nathan Gaikowski received an honorable mention.
In the Senior Biology and Behavioral Sciences Division: Carissa Scheel placed first; Ridge Roduner placed second; Avery Orth, Brock Krueger and Haeleigh Mulder placed third; Kennedy and Kendall Kolousek received an honorable mention.
In the Senior Physical Sciences and Engineering Division: Carter Gaikowski placed first; Mackenzie and Wyatt Johanneson placed second; Richard Cardona, Estrellita Cardona, and Sydney Richardson placed third; Brett Miller, Blake Miller and Kordell Schafer received an honorable mention.