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March 17, 2016
Old Forge students present winning projects by Tucker Hottes
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Students from the Old Forge school district had a chance to show their skills in science and math in the regional meeting of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS). Eleven students presented projects, with two receiving first awards to advance to the state meeting and two research fellowship opportunities presented. Science teacher Christopher Gatto, coadvisor of the Old Forge Science/Math club and sponsor to the PJAS, explained that students were tasked with developing a research project or experiment to present before a panel of students and judges at Wilkes University recently. Alexis Tayoun, 11th grade, and Amanda Katchmar, 10th grade, won first awards and will attend the three-day state meeting beginning May 15 in State College. The first-award winners demonstrated an array of methods of scientific observation and research. “Amanda Katchmar used her sophomore classmates as guinea pigs — she was looking to see if they retained what they read while listening to different types of music,” Gatto said. “She wanted to see if there was a certain type of music or no music at all that would allow them to retain information better. She found there really wasn’t a specific difference.” Other projects were more hands-on but not for the squeamish. “Alexis Tayoun got teeth from a local dentist and put them for two weeks in solutions of different drinks,” Gatto said. “She had one in Coke, another in milk, another in an energy drink and three other drinks. Every day she would take their mass to see if it was changing to see the effect of each drink on our teeth.” In total, nearly 1,000 students from the northeast Pennsylvania region attended the meeting at Wilkes University, with approximately 400 moving on to the state level where they’ll join another 2,000 to 2,500 students from across Pennsylvania.
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“Whether a student gets a first award and goes to states, or gets a second or third award, the experience is really what they take away from it,” Gatto said. “They’re developing an experiment, going through the proFrom left, front row: Ashley Bound, Emalee Shepard, Iain Kerrigan, Kole cess and actually Barbetti and Scarlett Spager. Back row: Ashley Katchmar, Amanda Katchgoing down to mar, Alexi Tayoun, Makayla Kresefski, Francesca Samony and Gianna BaWilkes Univer- resse. sity and making a presentation in front of other students and week long, and she’ll be staying on site,” said judges. It’s a good experience to prepare them Gatto. “It’s really cool; she’s one of five students who were awarded the fellowship. She’s for the next level of education.” In addition to the research projects, some interested in the environment and all aspects. students applied for research fellowships. Af- This will be a taste of what’s out there and if ter the application process, selected appli- this is a field she’d like to pursue.” Regardless of a student’s individual accomcants were interviewed, and two Old Forge plishments, Gatto said, all participants will students were awarded fellowships. have a leg up when it comes to advancing Amanda Katchmar was one of four stutheir educational careers. dents awarded a Commonwealth Medical “It’s great to be able to sit in a college inCollege research fellowship. Under the guidterview and say, ‘I went above what I did in ance of faculty and staff, she will spend two the classroom in high school. I did my own redays learning about the aspects of medical search, presented my own research project,’” school and spending time discussing everyhe said. “It takes them to a whole other level thing from community health to cancer rewhen they’re trying to market themselves to a search, according to Gatto. college or university.” “Amanda is really interested in medicine, Gatto said it’s rewarding to see students so it’s a really great opportunity for her, not achieve success. only to see what medical school is like, but to “It’s all about the kids,” he said. “They speak with professionals about what the prowant to put the time and effort in. It’s really fession entails,” he said. good from a teaching standpoint to see them The second fellowship will take 11th-gradtake interest in science and put the work forer Francesca Samony into the wilderness at ward and see the fruits of their labor.” Lacawac Sanctuary and Field Station, where The 11 Old Forge students who participatshe will spend a five-day residential week with ed were Amanda Katchmar, Alexis Tayoun, courses and hands-on experience with the Kole Barbetti, Iain Kerrigan, Ashley Katchforest and ecosystems on-site at the sanctumar, Francesca Samony, Scarlett Spader, Giary. This is the first year the fellowship will anna Baresse, Emalee Shepard, Makayla Krebe offered. sefski and Ashley Bound. “She’s really looking forward to that. It’s a