JONATHAN B. CARTER
WESTFIELD – Westfield High School will once again hold their regionally-renowned science fair this year on Thursday, February 12.
It will be the 15th annual event and is expected to draw over 300 participants according to Donna McKay, head of the WHS science department.
“We have what I believe to be the largest high School science fair in western Massachusetts,” said McKay, who will be helping run the event with co-coordinators Renee Sweeney and Jon Tyler. “I am proud to say that Westfield High School is consistently recognized as a leader in both the regional and state competitions as well.”
Over 100 professionals in the areas of engineering, biotechnology, physics, biology, ecology, chemistry and behavioral science will participate in the judging process for the event, which will be held in the WHS gymnasium from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be open to the public between the hours of 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. that day.
McKay said earlier this week that the top 12 projects from the fair move on to the Region I fair at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams later this year.
She added that last year all of Westfield High School’s participants received awards and moved on to the state competition, held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.
“The top projects from the Region I fair compete for over $600,000 in scholarships and prizes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,” said McKay, adding that one past WHS student received a $20,000 scholarship to attend the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
McKay is proud of her students and says that for the past several years students have even gone as far as the International Science Fair, with one student, Maileen Kozak, traveling to Los Angeles to present her project, “The Effect of a Solar Powered Surgical Sterilization System on Bacteria Growth.”
“This is truly one of the most authentic learning experiences we offer to our students,” she said. “This process allows them the opportunity to perform research, identify and solve real world problems, carry out and design their own experiments, analyze data, and to communicate orally, visually, and in writing with distinguished scientists.”
“We look forward to this day when we can see the culmination of work our amazing students have completed with their mentor teachers,” she said.
WHS Principal Jonathan Carter said that this year’s fair will coincide with a prospective student orientation night for current 8th graders.
“We are excited to expand our science fair this year. It is one of our showcase events of the school year,” said Carter.
In his second year presiding over the Science Fair, Carter believes the success of WHS’ young scientists at regional, state, and world competitions is clear evidence of the school and district’s commitment to STEM studies and preparing students for future college and career opportunities.
“We are pleased that we can now offer an evening program to allow parents and other members of the community into our school to celebrate the exceptional STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) talents of so many of our students.”
