Catholic Schools Shine at Regional Science Fair

By Carissa Krautscheid

On March 5, students at seven Catholic schools earned 55 awards at SARSEF’s 67th annual Regional Science and Engineering Fair and Community STEM Expo. Families and students "engaged in hands-on science, mingled with professional scientists and engineers, and celebrated the research conducted by thousands of Arizona students this school year!" (SARSEF)

Ms. Eileen Miller is the K-5 STEM and science teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in Tucson, AZ. Her third-grade students described the Science Fair experience as fantastic, fun, spectacular, and exciting! Southern Arizona students in grades 1-12 submitted 1,500 research projects as individuals, teams, or as a whole class. Topics ranged across scientific studies of animals, human behavior, health, chemicals, plants, computers, environment, engineering, robotics, physics, astronomy, and more. 

The third-grade class at St. Joseph Catholic School earned the 3rd place award in the “Engineering, Robotics, and Computer Science” category for elementary schools. Their submission titled “The Shhh…arpener Project” was a “class engineering project to build a cover for the pencil sharpener that will muffle the noise, reducing class disruptions.” They also received the sponsored Class Award of Engineering Design Excellence. 

“Science Fair requires a commitment to a process that is challenging for all,” said Ms. Miller. “It is, however, a unique opportunity to shift traditional learning - the student becomes the teacher, and the teacher learns from the student.” 

“Scientific investigation provides an opportunity for students to learn the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of something,” said Ms. Miller. “Rather than the rote learning of facts, students can prove something is true, which is more engaging and meaningful than being lectured to. There is also tremendous value in being able to design and complete a project. For younger students, the Science Fair is likely their first opportunity to really choose and direct their own learning. They choose what to learn about and they learn to be responsible for both following a specific process and for their time management. Students must research their topic, which helps them learn to differentiate fact from opinion or marketing campaigns. For those that prefer to ‘do’, it’s a way for them to demonstrate their ideas and abilities differently. It provides an outlet for those students to shine and get recognition for their unique talents.” 

Science is deeply integrated in the holistic and spiritual development of students at the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Tucson. The great scientist, Albert Einstein, said, “The more I study science, the more I believe in God,” and “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” 

“Science and religion coexist,” said Ms. Miller. “Students learn about God and His amazing universe by learning about science.” 

Congratulations, Science Fair award recipients! 

View the projects and full awards list here

Grand Awards 

Saint Joseph Catholic School 

• Katya Stickney, grade 7: “There and Back Again – A Seedling’s Tale” - Plant Sciences 1st place 

• Ms. Eileen Miller’s 3rd grade class: “The Shhh…arpener Project” - Engineering, Robotics, and Computer Science 3rd place 

• Rafael Meza, grade 4: “Don’t Be A Rookie, Bake the Perfect Cookie!” - Chemical and Material Sciences 3rd place 

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School 

• David Cardenas, grade 3: “Does Music Affect How We Concentrate?” - Behavioral and Social Sciences 1st place 

• Johnathan Raymond, grade 3: “Home Sweet Home” - Chemical and Material Sciences 1st place 

• Mrs. Emily Penning’s 2nd grade class: “Dancing Electrons” - Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics 1st place 

• Ms. Abigail Molina’s 5th grade class: “The Crazy Slide Transportation- Mountain Engineering Project” - Energy and Environmental Engineering 1st place 

• Mrs. Emily Penning’s 2nd grade class: “Strongest Starch” - Earth and Environmental Sciences 2nd place 

• Mrs. Yvette Urcadez’s 1st grade class: “The Floating Egg” - Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics 2nd place 

• Zachary Daou, grade 4: “Can Video Games Be Good For You?” - Health and Wellness 2nd place 

• Katalina Maldonado, grade 3: “Eating Iron” - Chemical and Material Sciences 3rd place 

• Olivia Toureno, grade 3: “Electrical Conduction with Different Wire Size” - Energy and Environmental Engineering 3rd place 

• Addison Cummings, grade 7: “Helpful or Harmful?” - Behavioral and Social Sciences 3rd place 

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School 

• Danny Green, grade 6: “Do athletes have better lung capacity than non-athletes?” - Health and Wellness 2nd place 

• Elizabeth Ennis, grade 6: “Can’t Stand the Heat? Get out of the Solar Oven!” - Energy and Environmental Engineering 2nd place 

• Justin Dinh, grade 6: “DRAG ME DOWN” - Energy and Environmental Engineering 3rd place 

Saint Cyril of Alexandria Catholic School 

• Catherine Sztan, grade 6: “Waiting for the Floods” - Earth and Environmental Sciences 1st place 

• Jackson Lipsy, grade 6: “The Leader of the Pack: an observational study of captive African Wild Dogs” - Animal Sciences 1st place 

• Juani Niyonkuru, grade 7: “Do different shade of eyes see illusions differently?” - Health and Wellness 1st place 

• Reagan Burgle, grade 6: “Liar Liar Pants on Fire” - Behavioral and Social Sciences 1st place 

• Taran Hogan, grade 6: “Stealth: They Never Saw It Coming!” - Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics 1st place 

• Ryan Douville, grade 5: “Wrath of the Mask” - Health and Wellness 2nd place 

• Caden White and Soleil Bonneau, grade 7: “Does the amount of sleep you get affect your memory” - Health and Wellness 2nd place 

• Isabella Murphy and Mia Thomas, grade 7: “The Stress Test: The Impact of Stress on Body Temperature” - Behavioral and Social Sciences 2nd place 

• Molly Murry, grade 8: “Cool Cleats: Solutions to Keep Feet Cool in Soccer Cleats” - Chemical and Material Sciences 2nd place 

• Alanna Lopez-Adkins, grade 8: “Self-Cleaning Birdcage” - Engineering, Robotics, and Computer Science 3rd place 

• Natalie Sivilli, grade 7: “Screens: How Do They Affect Your Sleep?” - Health and Wellness 3rd place 
• Cecilia Gaspers, grade 8: “Find Your Focus” - Health and Wellness 3rd place

Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic School 

• Coco Moreno, grade 8: “Tamarix v. Native Plants” - Earth and Environmental Sciences 1st place 

• Taryn Stevenson, grade 8: “Does Highlighting Actually Help?” - Behavioral and Social Sciences 1st place 

• Eamon McCallen, grade 7, “Which Swimsuit Makes You Faster In The Water” - Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics 2nd place 

• Lucas Freeman, grade 8: “Do Different Types of Sunscreens Matter?” - Chemical and Material Sciences 2nd place 

• Maria Mexia, grade 6: “Does A Specific Colored Surface Affect Bacterial Growth?” - Health and Wellness 2nd place 

• Mauricio Hernandez, grade 6: “Curveball!” - Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics 2nd place 

• Olivia Taylor, grade 7: “Water in your ears?” - Animal Sciences 2nd place 

• Ramsey Harrison, grade 6: “Which Brand of Leg Protection Boot gives my horse his Best Performance?” - Animal Sciences 2nd place 
• ​​​​​​​Kelsie Harrison, grade 7: “Lettuce eat salad” - Plant Sciences 2nd place 

• Aiden Evangelista, grade 8: “Does Fed Bacteria Produce More Energy than Unfed Bacteria?” - Energy and Environmental Engineering 3rd place 

• Emily Olsen, grade 7: “How do different genres of music (rock, country, hip hop, and electronic) affect heart rate?” - Health and Wellness 3rd place 

• Giada Freeman, grade 6: “Can Sheep Recognize ‘Ewe’?” - Animal Sciences 3rd place 

• Isabella Alvarez, grade 8: “Are Child Proof Locks Really Child Proof?” - Behavioral and Social Sciences 3rd place 

• Kianna Alvarez, grade 7: “Muffin Makin’” - Chemical and Material Sciences 3rd place 

• Kiley Nguyen, grade 6: “Does noise affect coordination?” - Behavioral and Social Sciences 3rd place 

• McKenzie Avelar, grade 8: “Gas in Drinks” - Health and Wellness 3rd place 

• Natalie Chavez, grade 6: “Different type of music and its effect on burning calories” – Plant Sciences 3rd place 

Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic School

• Mallory McRee, grade 8: “Scoliosis Super Shirt” - Health and Wellness 1st place 

• Jennifer Coronato, grade 8: “Sunny Shade” - Energy and Environmental Engineering 2nd place 

• Jamison Ramsower, grade 8: “Solar Panel Energy Generation” - Energy and Environmental Engineering 3rd place 

• Sophia Washburn, grade 8: “Mad Maglev” - Engineering, Robotics, and Computer Science 3rd place

Immaculate Heart Elementary and Middle School 

• Ngoc Bui, grade 8: “The Untold Truth of A Shopping Cart” - Health and Wellness 1st place 

• Ms. Jessica Reichling’s 4th grade class: “Science for snoozing” - Health and Wellness 2nd place 

• Hunter Asplin and Luke Johnson, grade 8: “Mo’ Rebounding, Mo’ Problems” - Engineering, Robotics, and Computer Science 3rd place 

• Paul Fellinger, grade 6: “Banana Bash” - Chemical and Material Sciences 3rd place 

• So Jung Lee, grade 8: “Do You Collect More Rain By Walking Or Running?” - Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics 3rd place 

Immaculate Heart High School 

• Elizabeth Haloftis and Phuong Bui, grade 11: “The Effect of Landscape Gravel on Ambient Air, Surface, and Soil Temperature” - Earth and Environmental Sciences 2nd place