Poland CSD students awarded $5,500 in prizes at its 38th annual science fair

The 38th Annual Poland Science Fair was a tremendous success, showcasing the creativity,
innovation, and scientific curiosity of its students. The event, held in the school gymnasium on March 5,
brought together young minds eager to present their projects in various fields, including biology,
engineering, chemistry, and environmental science.

A total of 29 students in grades 7 and 8 won junior-level awards and 27 students in grades 9-11 received
senior-level awards for their projects. While winning is certainly motivating, the main goal of the science
fair is to encourage students to explore scientific concepts through hands-on research and
experimentation. It provides an opportunity for students to apply scientific methods, develop critical
thinking skills, and foster a passion for science. The science fair also promotes creativity and innovation,
allowing students to present their findings to the Poland community and share their enthusiasm for
scientific inquiry.

Poland science teachers Kevin Ford and Jessica Meyer are appointed advisors for the science fair and
manage the event. Judges, including science experts from the area and former alumni, reviewed the
projects from students in grades 7-11. Each student entered in one of three categories: natural science,
physical science and math/technology. The judges reviewed the projects while considering six areas of
criteria: creative ability, thoroughness, skill, clarity, knowledge and scientific method.
A total of $5,500 was donated to support the awards for the science fair. Poland Central School District
would like to extend a special thank you to the generous sponsors: Alamo Bar & Grill, Association of
Poland Teachers, Atlantic Testing Laboratories, Captain Finn Morrissey, First Source Federal Credit Union,
George F. Aney, GPO Federal Credit Union, Haver's Circle K, Hometown Tree Service, Jeffrey Hazard and
The Family of Ryan W. Braunlich, Kestrel Construction Services, Left Over Express, Inc., March Associates,
Mounts Creek Farm, Newport Telephone Company, Ohio Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club, Ohio Tavern &

Restaurant, PCS Science Department, PCS Student Council, Perfex Corporation, Poland Booster Club, Poland
Fine Arts Fans, Poland Parents Support Group, Poland Sand and Gravel, Rotary Club of Kuyahoora Valley,
Snyder's Fuel, T. Milo Construction, The Akaydia, The Ford Family, The Hill Family, Twin Rivers Paper
Company, W.E. Autenrith Sons, Inc., and West Canada Creek Campground.

“Thank you to the supportive families, volunteers, and community members who came to celebrate these
young scientists,” said Superintendent Laura Dutton. “Their support has been instrumental in making the
science fair possible. We are incredibly proud of our students and all they have accomplished.”
Reeghan Layton was named Grand Champion at the junior level with a project called “Water : Purity vs.
Preference.” Alaina Meyer was named Grand Champion at the senior level with a project called “Bifacial
Solar Fencing.”

The full list of science fair award winners at the Junior and Senior Levels include:

Junior Level
• Brady Allen – The Galileo Galilei Award, 3rd place - Physical Science
• Alexander Beck – Daily Life Award
• Jackson Bell – 4th place - Physical Science
• Bradley Beyel – STEM Communicator Award, 1st place - Math/Technology
• Jameson Burgess Jr – Infectious Curiosity Award, Integrity in Inquiry Award, Interdisciplinary
Award, Kenneth Young Memorial Award
• Noah Citrin – Nature Award
• Sydney Dodge – 4th place - Math/Technology
• Victoria Greben – The Gregor Mendel Award, The Nikola Tesla Award
• Briar Grems – Resilience Award, The Social Scientist Award
• Gavin Horan – Talk The Talk and Walk The Walk Award, Construction and Building Excellence
Award, 2nd place - Physical Science
• Marcella Lawson – Science Meets The Arts Award, Scientific Innovation Award, The Paradigm
Shifter Award, Data Visualization and Analysis Award, 3rd place - Math/Technology
• Reeghan Layton – Hydrology Award, Science Excellence Award, Ben Hill Save Our Earth Award,
Emerging Scientist Award, 1st place - Natural Science, Grand Champion
• Mackenzie Lee – Microbiology Award
• Marissa Mashtare – Future Applications Award, The Humanitarian Impact Award
• Christopher Mattox – Agriculture Award, Earth Science Award, The Mounts Creek Farm Award
• Liam Miazga – Botany Award, Originality Award, Student Choice Award, Principal Ellsworth H. Buck
Memorial Award, The Khalil Lorenzo Mouna Award for Out-of-the-Box Thinking, 2nd place - Natural
Science

• Bryce Michaud – Chemical Science Award
• Charlee Moorhead – 4th place - Natural Science
• Matthew Nebush – Math/Technology Achievement Award, Physics Award, 2nd place -
Math/Technology
• Jakub Nightingale – The Burning Question Award, Ryan Winfield Braunlich Memorial Award
• Hudson Paul – Food Sciences Award
• Grant Roark – Excellence in Presentation Award
• Hunter Rommel – Metric Award, The Robert and Barbara Ford Memorial Science Award, 1st place -
Physical Science
• Landon Salvatore – Health Award, Human Anatomy and Performance Award, Medical Award,
Scientific Data Award, Principal's Award, 3rd place - Natural Science
• Collin Smithson – Scientific Methodology Award
• Aubrey Tabor – Autenrith's Creativity Award
• Aubrey Taylor – Animal Science Award
• Ronan Taylor – Russell E. Price Memorial Award
• Evelyn West – Conservation Award

Senior Level
• Riley Archer – The Social Scientist Award
• Alyssa Bell – Scientific Methodology Award
• Tyler Boyce – Physics Award, The Robert and Barbara Ford Memorial Science Award
• Dax Coe – Agriculture Award, Excellence in Presentation Award, 1st place - Natural Science, Earth
Science Award
• Zahz Eveleth – Nature Award
• Cooper Farber – 4th place - Math/Technology
• Mark Greben – Autenrith's Creativity Award
• Xander Hart – Russell E. Price Memorial Award
• Kade Haver – Animal Science Award, Hydrology Award, Scientific Data Award, Principal's Award,
3rd place - Math/Technology
• Bradley Hoffert – The Paradigm Shifter Award, 2nd place - Math/Technology
• Luke Hulbert – Math/Technology Achievement Award
• Gracie Linneen – Kenneth Young Memorial Award
• Averie Loomis – Originality Award
• Rush Loveless – Chemical Science Award

• Trinity Lyman – Science Meets The Arts Award, The Humanitarian Impact Award, 3rd place -
Physical Science
• Dharma Martin – Human Anatomy and Performance Award, The Burning Question Award, Talk The
Talk and Walk The Walk Award
• Bentley Mattox – Metric Award
• Grant McOwen – Botany Award
• Julia Metzgier – 4th place - Physical Science
• Alaina Meyer – Infectious Curiosity Award, Science Excellence Award, STEM Communicator Award,
The Nikola Tesla Award, Ben Hill Save Our Earth Award, Data Visualization and Analysis Award, Ryan
Winfield Braunlich Memorial Award, Construction and Building Excellence Award, The Khalil Lorenzo
Mouna Award for Out-of-the-Box Thinking, 1st place - Math/Technology, Grand Champion
• Baylee Mowers – Conservation Award, Principal Ellsworth H. Buck Memorial Award, 3rd place -
Natural Science
• Emma Muller – Daily Life Award, Future Applications Award, Interdisciplinary Award, Student
Choice Award, Emerging Scientist Award, 1st place - Physical Science
• Emily Pope – Scientific Innovation Award, The Galileo Galilei Award, 2nd place - Physical Science
• Bentlee Roark – Food Sciences Award, Integrity in Inquiry Award, Medical Award
• Brielle Schrader – Microbiology Award, The Gregor Mendel Award, 2nd place - Natural Science
• Reily Stanton – Health Award, Resilience Award
• Luci Virgil – The Mounts Creek Farm Award, 4th place - Natural Science