By Barbara Rowley
Ophir School students journeyed to Butte on March 3 for the Montana Tech University Regional Science Fair and came back decorated with gold, silver and bronze medals in recognition of their science projects.
Students in each of the grades attending – fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth – received gold medals as well as blue ribbons, the highest recognition available.
Winning gold medals were teams including Michael Romney and Brock Johnson; Gus Hoffman and Nick Wade, and Emma Flach and Maddie Rager. Individual winners were Reece Bell, Caden Daugaard, Solae Swenson, and Kate Middleton. Five other students took home silver or bronze medals, and 12 found first place blue ribbons on their projects.
Additionally, Emma Flach and Maddie Rager received a Best in Show commendation for their life science project investigating the health benefits of dark chocolate. The combined success of the students meant a second place trophy for Ophir School, one of 22 schools that participated.
It was the school’s sixth year attending the fair, said science teacher and fair coordinator Sue Barton, who is in her 10th year of introducing students to the scientific process through research projects.
