TODAY AT BRECK SPRING 2013
TODAY AT 123 OTTaWA ave. North
Advanced Science Research Students Score Well at Twin Cities Regional Science Fair In mid-February, Breck scientists had an excellent showing at the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair despite what program advisor Lois Fruen termed as “intense competition” from other schools. Highlights include the following: 10
Elliott Weiler was named a finalist for the International Sustainable World (I-SWEEEP) Challenge and will present his research in Houston in May. Jessica Ryvlin was selected as a finalist to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), with Caleb Kumar, Elisa Villafaña and Tiffany Ravelomanantsoa named alternates. They’ll present at the conference in Phoenix in May. Paige Dempsey won the third-place trophy in the Twin Cities Regional Paper competition. Ten out of 28 papers selected from three regions to move on to the Tri-State Junior Science and Humanities Symposium are from Breck: Paige Dempsey, Abby Erdman, Caleb Kumar, Matt McMillan, Peter Metzger, Achinth Murali, Tiffany Ravelomanantsoa, Jessica Ryvlin, Claire Simpson, Elliott Weiler and Elisa Villafaña. Darius Bieganski was named an alternate.
And 13 out of 47 students selected from three regions to move on to the State Science and Engineering Fair are from Breck: Darius Bieganski, Greer Bingham, Paige Dempsey, Abby Erdmann, Caleb Kumar, Matt McMillan, Peter Metzger, Achinth Murali, Tiffany Ravelomanantsoa, Jessica Ryvlin, Claire Simpson, Elliott Weiler and Elisa Villafaña. A complete list of special awards won by Breck students is available in our News and Events section on breckschool.org.
“Ms. J” Takes Flight Upper School science instructor Chelen Johnson had an amazing experience on her NASA flights, doing astronomy research at 50,000 feet onboard a 747 equipped with an infrared telescope. From over 500 applications, she was one of 26 teachers chosen for the program and one of the first four scheduled to fly. Local media were very interested in the story, which was covered in the Star Tribune and on four television stations: WCCO, KARE-11, KSTP and Cable 12. Johnson says the flights were a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and that flying at that altitude put the astronomers above vapors from the Earth’s atmosphere, providing an amazingly clear view. And, as she joked with reporters, “the nerd factor was over the roof.”
Who Knew?
“Big John” Carlson, operator of the crane used in our construction project, made a special appearance at a Lower School Community Meeting to answer students’ questions.