Burnsville High School students participate in regional science fair, advance to state competition

At Burnsville High School, one of the many ways that students are able to explore their interest in STEM is through participation in the science fair. Over the course of many months, students build a variety of skills, including critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication, as they conduct independent research.

This year, several students had the opportunity to blaze their trail at the 84th Annual Twin Cities Regional Science Fair, which was held virtually. 

There were 12 students who participated in the project competition, five of which advanced to the Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair. 

Students advancing to state competition are Ekbal Abdi, Emma Boys, Gabriel Cordova Gonzalez, Eithne Onsinyo and Nawal Warfa. Alternates are Quinn Hess, Braiden Moher, Julia Osmolski and Anna Tran. 

Students who received various awards for their projects include::

• Office Depot Sponsor Award – Anna Tran
• 3M Young Inventor Recognition Award ($100 gift card, 3M gift box, personalized invitation 3M) – Gabriel Cordova Gonzalez, Ekbal Abdi and Eithne Onsinyo
• Inspiring Excellence Project Award – Gabriel Cordova Gonzalez
• Office of Naval Research Award – Gabriel Cordova Gonzalez
• American Psychological Association Award – Braiden Moher
• Genius Olympiad Award (GENIUS Olympiad is for environmental-focused projects. It is an international competition with the opportunity to win many awards) – Gabriel Cordova Gonzalez, Anna Tran
• Yale Science and Engineering Association – Emma Boys
• Stockholm Junior Water Prize – Scott Mikkelsen, Ekbal Abdi and Eithne Onsinyo, Nawal Warfa, Juan Sanchez Uribe and Luis Ramirez Aranda

There were 68 students who participated in the paper competition, six of which advanced to the National Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS) slated for April 20-23 in Albuquerque, N.M. 

Students advancing to the JSHS are Victoria Biggs, Isabel Lange, Gabriel Le, Sophie Meyers, Madeline Olson and Matt Trussell. Alternates are Quinn Hess, Victoria Jacobson, Wesley Krueger, Noah Leipnitz, Scott Mikkelsen, Andrew Morgan, Julia Osmolski, Noah Steinhouse, Anna Thomas and Kira Theng.

“We had some great projects this year and several students earned advancement to state competition as well as prestigious prizes,” said Mike Huemoeller, Burnsville High School science teacher and science fair advisor. “This year we had more students from the English Learners program advance to state than ever before. All of the students put a lot of work into their projects and really demonstrated that they knew how to conduct valid scientific inquiry as well as data analysis. Our students continually show we can compete with any other school in the metro area in the field of scientific investigation, and they should be very proud of their accomplishments!"

The awards results and additional science fair information is posted on the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair website.