April 10, 2012                                                                                                                                                                           

DSBN Students to Represent Niagara on National Stage

Budding young scientists at the District School Board of Niagara are being recognized for their research, hard work and innovative approaches to questions of science. Recently, students wrapped up one of their most successful showings at the Niagara Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NRSEF).

Students won top honours in each category (Juvenile, Junior, Intermediate and Senior), with Sir Winston Churchill student Varsha Jayasankar earning the NRSEF Best in Fair award for her project “Plantibiotics: A ‘C.A.C.E’ Study.”

Based on the strength of their work, seven DSBN students were invited to represent the region as part of Team Niagara at the Canada-Wide Science Fair being held in Prince Edward Island from May 12 - 18. Travelling to Charlottetown will be:

• Varsha Jayasankar, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary
• Jerry Hann and Angela Gaiero, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary
• Amy Lin and Taylor Laekeman, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary
• Shane Hickman, Pelham Centre Public School
• Neha Gulati, Lakeview Public School

In a message to parents on the Canada-Wide Science Fair website, co-chairs Bill Whelan and Andrew Trivett write that it is “quite an honour for students to be selected to attend our country’s most prestigious science fair.”

The message goes on to say that the experience students have in Charlottetown will be “memorable for all the right reasons – new experiences, outstanding activities and friendships to last a lifetime.”

DSBN Science and Environmental Education Consultant Sean Hanna says students’ participation in both the NRSEF and the Canada-Wide Fair allows them to “demonstrate their keen interest and innovative approach to complex scientific issues. These students all have very bright futures ahead of them and we congratulate them all for their hard work, careful research and professional presentations.”

DSBN Award Winners at the 2012 Niagara Regional       Science and Engineering Fair 

Best in Fair Award 

Varsha Jayasankar, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary

Science Fair Teacher of the Year Award

Julie Arsenault – Howick, Lakeview Public School

School Awards 

Junior – Lakeview Public School

Intermediate/Senior – Sir Winston Churchill Secondary

Juvenile (Grades 5 – 6) 

Silver 

Carson Suggett, Carleton Public School

Bronze 

Emma Rupcic, Grapeview Public School

Jacquelyn Campbell, Parnall Public School

Junior Division (Grade 7 – 8) 

Gold 

Shane Hickman, Pelham Centre Public School

Silver 

Neha Gulati, Lakeview Public School

Bronze 

Ben Frisen, Lakeview Public School

Andrew Cramp, Glynn A. Green Public School

Oliver Wolf, Richmond Street Public School

Roman Kozak, Lakeview Public School

Honourable Mention 

Caleb Hopkins, Grand Avenue Public School

Krithika Srikanth, Jacob Beam Public School 

Intermediate (Grades 9 – 10) 

Gold 

Varsha Jayasankar, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary

Bronze 

Ishaan Gulati, Grimsby Secondary

Senior (Grades 11 – 12) 

Gold  

Jerry Hann and Angela Gaiero, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary

Silver 

Amy Lin and Taylor Laekeman, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary

Honourable Mention 

Madison Fugard, Sir Winston Churchill