Thanks to the efforts of Big Walnut school board member Nicci Hess, three Big Walnut Intermediate School students were invited to the Ohio School Board Association’s convention to display last school year’s science fair projects
Their participation was part of the OSBA Student Achievement Fair on Nov. 10.
Members of the Big Walnut school board hold monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month, except during November when the meeting is postponed for one week to allow board members to attend the OSBA’s annual conference at the Columbus Convention Center.
Big Walnut Intermediate teachers Rina Hoge and Mike Stone accompanied sixth-graders Christopher Lee, Kailyn Merkel and Jenna Austin to the fair that hosted more than 100 school districts of all sizes from around Ohio.
“These exceptional students had the opportunity to showcase our school’s science fair success as visitors stopped at our booth,” Hoge said. “It’s been a great opportunity for them to show what our school district is doing; that across-the-board our district is doing very well in science.”
Big Walnut Intermediate School Principal Ryan McLane, who also attended the fair, said he loved the venue and how his students handled the limelight.
“We’ve got great kids at the intermediate school who are curious about science,” McLane said. “We have phenomenal teachers guiding them, and that’s always a great combination.”
Kailyn Merkel showed her project that explored which recipe makes the tastiest chocolate sauce; Jenna Austin researched which home remedy can put a child to sleep the fastest; and Christopher Lee wondered which is best, paper or screen learning.
Christopher said attending the achievement fair was exciting.
“It feels inspiring because something like this could determine our future,” Christopher said. “And that’s what’s exciting.”
