“I need a science fair project.” Those can be scary words to parents, guardians, or grandparents of students desiring to enter a science fair.  They can also be the beginning of great learning and encouragement of further education.

Last Wednesday, December 8^th, 2010,  I stopped by the Citrus County Fairgrounds  Auditorium and spent some time visiting students and viewing their projects that were entered in this year’s Citrus Regional Science & Engineering Fair.  Their work was outstanding. Among the things I learned was what  batteries  were best  to buy to save  money, what hair products performed better, what temperature  makes   popcorn pop faster, how to use  reusable resources to make cost-saving energy, and what pest control product was best for terminating ants .  Our Citrus County students are nothing less than amazing!  The Fair was supported by our Citrus County School District and by Suncoast Schools Credit Union & American Pro Dive.   Nearly all of our public schools, our charter schools,  home schools/virtual schools, and three private school s were represented at the science fair.

At the Citrus Regional Science & Engineering Fair Award on Monday, December 13^th, 2010 ,  I had the opportunity  to congratulate  our student award winners.  This was a special honor for me to be able to do.  In addition to the category winners, Special Awards were given from the following groups and organizations: American Meteorological Society, American Psychological Association, ASM International Foundation, Association for Women Geoscientists, Excellence in Environmental Sciences, The John & Olga Sloboda Memorial Award, Linblad Expedition Awards for Excellence, Mu Alpha Theta, National Society of Professional Engineers, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association, Nature Coast Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, Ricoh Sustainable Development, Society for In Vitro Biology, Stockholm Junior Water Prize, U.S. Army, U.S. Metric Association, U.S. Navy/Marine Corps, Yale Science and Engineering Association, and Xi Nu Upsilon of Beta Sigma Phi Award.

I want to specially thank Director of Secondary Education Mark Klauder, Science Fair Director & TOSA  Amanda Crawford, and Science Fair Co-Director  Lindsey Reid for working so hard to make this science fair possible.   I want to further thank the individual school educators that supported our students through their projects.  Lastly, I want to thank the students’ home support of parents, grandparents and guardians.

Ten junior (middle school) and ten senior (high school) students will go to State to compete and two students (one from the Academy of Environmental Science the other from Citrus High School) were chosen to represent Citrus School District at the International Science Fair.  Lastly, the Academy of Environmental Science won best all around senior school for the 2010 Science & Engineering Fair.

Best of luck to our students as they continue to complete and to students who are already thinking of next year’s projects!!

Related Links

• Citrus County School District
• Suncoast Schools Credit Union
• American Pro Dive
• Secondary Education
• Academy of Environmental Science
• Citrus High School

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School Board meeting this Tuesday, December 14th, 2010 at 4:00pm at Citrus County School District, Board Room, 1007 W. Main Street, Inverness, Florida 34450.

Citizen Comments at 4:00pm are reserved for comments on the items requesting approval on the agenda.   A second opportunity for Citizen Comments is available at 6:00 p.m. on any subject.

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Photo by Chronicle Students from the Environmental Academy mix up a batch of biodiesel fuel from vegetable oil. From left, students Sarah Greer, Chance Owens, Cody Fountain and Dillon Walker watch the oil and other components mix during class Tuesday at the Marine Science Center. The biodiesel is mixed with 50 percent commercial diesel fuel.

Chuck Mulligan has found a way to fuel his students’ interest in chemistry. On a chilly morning earlier this week, a group of his Academy of Environmental Science students gathered at the Marine Science Station to produce their first big batch of biodiesel.
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