Flathead Valley students achieved an impressive number of awards in the Montana State Science Fair March 17-18 in Missoula.

Flathead High School student Sophia Skwarchuk’s project, “The melting of polar ice caps as a catalyst for further environmental degradation,” earned the American Meteorological Society Outstanding Achievement Award and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award.

Colin and Colter Norick of Columbia Falls earned five awards and a gold ribbon for their project, “The Correlation between Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Levels and Cognitive Function in Healthy Teens.”

West Valley School had the strongest showing at the science fair with 25 participants. 

West Valley School students Kasey Sands and Natasha Johnson teamed up to produce a project titled “Breaking the Barriers,” which earned them a gold ribbon plus three other awards.

West Valley student Ashlyn Cleveland received the University of Montana Environmental Studies Department Division II Award for her project, “The Water’s Toxic!” 

Olivia Kalvig of West Valley, achieved the Montana Energy Education Council and NorthWestern Energy Eighth Grade First Place Award for her project, “The Thermoelectric Difference.”

The following students earned grand awards:

Sixth Grade Biological Second Place — Allison Miller, Whitefish Christian Academy, “Caffeinated Critters.”

Sixth Grade Biological Third Place — Anna Hedinger, St. Matthew’s School, “Plant Irradiation: Asset or Obstacle?”

Sixth Grade Physical First Place —  Luke Ritzdorf, Kalispell Montessori Elementary, “Pollution-detector Pi”

Sixth Grade Physical Second Place — David Skwarchuk, West Valley School, “Flying Up High”

Columbia Falls High School received a first-place outstanding school award in the large high school category and Kalispell Montessori received the first-place outstanding school award among small junior high schools.

Columbia Falls Public Schools

Madeline Jarvis, “Brain Buster,” bronze

Kelsey Wright, “Should You Kiss Your Dog?” silver

Colter Norick and Colin Norick, “The Correlation between Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Levels and Cognitive Function in Healthy Teens,” gold

Deer Park Elementary

Cassidy Norick, “The Hidden Dangers of Pop,” gold

Evergreen School

Nic Hannay, “Jack it up!,” silver

Flathead High School

Sophia Skwarchuk, “The melting of polar ice caps as a catalyst for further environmental degradation,” gold

Kalispell Montessori Elementary

Zachary Hong, “Get Out of the Water,” gold

Luke Ritzdorf, “Pollution-detector Pi,” gold

St. Matthew’s School

Hanna Brann, “Accuracy and the Accused,” silver

Carlin Manning, “CO2 and You,” gold

Sean Manning, “How Many Wraps Does it Take?” silver

Annalise Mcguire -Fender, “It Just Comes Naturally,” silver

Cecilia Cornish, “Talking to Plants: Insanity or Old House Trick?” silver

Clara Vandenbosch, “It's not the Hype, It's the Hoop,” silver

Conrad Hedinger, “Muscle Wire,” gold

Jake Smith, “Science is Sweet,” silver

Ryan Kelly, “Spritalicous,” silver

Nick Leopold, “The Bridge You Want To Truss,” gold

Kavi Fix, “Carbonation Explanation,” bronze

Anna Hedinger, “Plant Irradiation: Asset or Obstacle?” gold

Kian Saadi, “Dog vs. Bacteria,” silver

Kacie Barrett, “Electrolyte Challenge,” bronze

Kaitlyn Dittmer, “How Glue Dries,” silver

Riley Jochim, “A Penny For Your Thoughts,” gold

Hailey Jensen, “Science Rocks,” silver

Stillwater Christian School

Caleb Gwynn, “Do you remember?” bronze

West Valley School

Eric Anderson, “I'm Going Bananas,” bronze

Kinzie Peterson, “Germ-Busting Agent,” silver

Emily Inselman, “Clever and Cunning Canines,” silver

Aurora Riedinger, “Feeding Fido,” gold

Tanner Norenberg, “Video Game Mania,” silver

Olivia Kalvig, “The Thermoelectric Difference,” gold

Tessa Ulberg and Alex Appelt, “Color Wars,” bronze

Delaney Wirtala, “Snowpackular!” gold

Travis Wirtala, “Floating Cars,” silver

Rachael Broughton, “Super Human Super Bugs,” gold

Annika Birney, “Brain Game,” silver

Kasey Sands and Natasha Johnson, “Breaking The Barriers,” gold

Daniel Kernan, “Does Mass Matter,” gold

Paige Hill, “Taste the Rainbow,” silver

Kacey Hill, “Yogurt Yummy for my Upset Tummy,” silver

Eli Hunt, “It's a Matter of Light or Death,” silver

Ashlyn Cleveland, “The Water’s Toxic!,” gold

John McDonnell, “Skiing for Skiing,” gold

Kyla Harris, “See Differently: iScope5,” silver

David Skwarchuk, “Flying Up High,” gold

Emma McDonald, “Lights, Camera, Action!” gold

Allee Meyer, “Stretch,” bronze

Jadeyn Fincher, “Solar Power!” bronze

Garrett Jewett, “Eggstra Protein,” silver

Sierra Wallner, “Rusting Out,” silver

Whitefish Christian Academy

Ethan Mercer, “What's In Your Water?” gold

Logan Mercer, “Dose of Caffeine,” silver

Hannah Amick, “Toxic Drizzle,” gold

Alex Wojcechowski, “Samoyed Weight Gain,” silver

Allison Miller, “Caffeinated Critters,” gold

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].