EDUCATION

Third-annual Appoquinimink STEM Fair on Thursday

Scott Goss scott.goss@doverpost.com @MiddletownScott
Elementary, middle and high school students will put their hypotheses to the test on Thursday at the Appoquinimink School District’s third-annual STEM Fair. “The goal of the STEM Fair is to provide an opportunity for students in grades 3-12 to engage in independent, multidisciplinary research projects that enhance their scientific and engineering practices,” district Science Specialist Todd Dunn said in a release promoting the event. “Ultimately, we want to provide the support and encouragement young people need to pursue postsecondary education and enter STEM-related careers.” Individual students and teams qualified to participate in the district-level competition by placing in the top three at school-level STEM fairs held throughout April. Those students will now head to Marion E. Proffitt Training Center in Odessa where they will present their underlying hypothesis and the methods they used to test its validity to a juried panel of educators and professionals working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. All students who compete will take home a certificate and commemorative dog tags. Top finishers also will receive prizes donated by the nonprofit Appoquinimink Foundation, including a Kindle Fire for the first-place winner at the elementary school level; an iPod touch for the first-place winners at the middle and high school levels, a Kindle Fire for second place, and a $50 iTunes gift card for third place.

Elementary, middle and high school students will put their hypotheses to the test on Thursday at the Appoquinimink School District’s third-annual STEM Fair.

“The goal of the STEM Fair is to provide an opportunity for students in grades 3-12 to engage in independent, multidisciplinary research projects that enhance their scientific and engineering practices,” district Science Specialist Todd Dunn said in a release promoting the event. “Ultimately, we want to provide the support and encouragement young people need to pursue post-secondary education and enter STEM-related careers.”

Individual students and teams qualified to participate in the district-level competition by placing in the top three at school-level STEM fairs held throughout April.

Those students will now head to Marion E. Proffitt Training Center in Odessa where they will present their underlying hypothesis and the methods they used to test its validity to a juried panel of educators and professionals working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

All students who compete will take home a certificate and commemorative dog tags.

Top finishers also will receive prizes donated by the nonprofit Appoquinimink Foundation, including a Kindle Fire for the first-place winner at the elementary school level; an iPod touch for the first-place winners at the middle and high school levels, a Kindle Fire for second place, and a $50 iTunes gift card for third place.