Photo caption: Kynlie Jones and Blaire Standingbear, second graders at Daposka Ahnkodapi, explain their class STEAM Fair project titled, “Guinea Pig Maze Brain-a-Thon” to Kynlie’s dad Shannon Jones. SHANNON SHAW DUTY/Osage News

The 3^rd Annual STEAM Science Fair, hosted by the Osage Nation Education Department, was buzzing with activity on Jan. 30 at the Osage County Fairgrounds.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math and this year there were 241 students that participated. Local 7^th and 8^th grade students participated from the following schools: Skiatook, Hominy, Avant, Barnsdall, Pawhuska, Bowring, Osage Hills, Woodland, and Daposka Ahnkodapi (Our School).

This year the fair was condensed to two days, unlike previous years.

“With two days, more schools attended each day and the students were exposed to more projects. We increased the number of judges and reorganized the project layout, this made the process more efficient,” said Jennifer Holding, STEAM Coordinator. “Students enjoyed the snacks and lunch donated by Osage Casinos, a photo booth, a drone activity, a sensory station provided by Osage Nation Child Care, and games with Osage Nation Prevention Program during their presentation breaks.”

Holding said the top three winners from each grade will have the opportunity to compete at the Bartlesville District Science Fair. The education department will pay their entry fee as a reward for winning. 

The top seven project winners, from each grade, will enjoy a fun filled day building robots at Bricks for Kidz, a delicious lunch at Hideaway Pizza, and creative art workshop at Pinot’s Palette, she said.

The teachers from each school that participated at the science fair received $100 in supplies for their science classroom. Holding said the education department partnered with the ON Environmental and Natural Resources Department, Osage Casinos, ON Communications, ON Child Care, ON Prevention, Daposka Ahnkodapi, Osage County Public Schools and faculty, and the Osage County Fairground employees. 

“We had a remarkable group of judges this year. We look forward to next year and hosting our 4^th Annual Osage Nation STEAM Science Fair,” she said.

Donna Gray, a Woodland Middle School student in the 8^th grade, said after a tornado hit in downtown Fairfax in the fall, it inspired her science project. She said she didn’t know of anyone in particular who was impacted by the tornado, but it made her curious about tornadoes.

“I wanted to know why tornadoes form,” she said. Her presentation had various facts on a poster board and she said that when people don’t have storm cellars, they can be in danger. She discussed various ways to be prepared in the event of a tornado and where to take cover inside your home if one should happen to hit nearby. “We go to the center of our house.”

The first grade of Daposka Ahnkodapi made a class project for the fair and named it “How to Build a Ship; Floating Titanic.” The class built different ships out of different materials to see which one would float better and they also learned about the Titanic’s history.

Shane Cass, a first grader at Daposka Ahnkodapi, said that when he made a ship out of cardboard it sank. But when he made a ship out of Styrofoam, it floated. “Because the Styrofoam has more buoyancy,” he said. “The cardboard is too dense.”

The second grade of Daposka Ahnkodapi made “Guinea Pig Maze Brain-a-Thon” where they tested their two class guinea pigs by enticing them with different vegetables and fruits to see which one would make the guinea pigs run through a maze of their making. Their graph had the Osage words for each vegetable and fruit they tried to entice the guinea pigs, and it was written in English and the Osage orthography. The times of each guinea pig was also recorded on the graph.

Kynlie Jones, a second grader at Daposka Ahnkodapi, explained that out of all the fruits and vegetables they tested, “broccoli was our guinea pigs’ favorite.”

The top overall winners are listed below.

From Skiatook Public School

Brandon Hight and Joseph Unap with Which Wood Burns Faster?

Trinity Sickler and Presley Brown with Avocados

Mallory Scraper and Payton Haley with Coloring Changing Flowers

Kadin Galviola with Got Lint? Use It!

Bryson Waugh with Heat Pump Kinetic Energy

Sarah Campbell and Lindsey George with Salty Shrimp

Anna Belle Wilcoxson and Alexis Thomas with The Hard Boiled Facts

Kane Beard with Hydrophobic Metal

Elle Johnson with How Much Bacteria is in Water?

From Pawhuska Public School

Madison Martin with Cutting the Fat

Caroline Perrier with Brighten your Smile

Alyssa Yoho with Paper Towel Challenge

Laurel Moody with Rust Removal

Skye Amberson with Biofuel on Biofuel

On both days of the science fair, there were categorical winners that received ribbons:

Day One, 7th grade

Biochemistry/Chemistry –

1^st, Cooper Stuever

2^nd, Addison Slavin

3^rd, Audree Stehno and Cole Martin

Botany/Zoology –

1^st, Kimmy Rathbun

Engineering/Physics –

1^st, Aidan Shelton

2^nd, Aidan Howard

3^rd, Sara Cates

Environmental/Earth/Space Science –

1^st, Trinidy Rice

2^nd, Katie Griffin

3^rd, Timothy Henson

Math/Computer Science –

1^st, Conner Haas

Medicine/Health –

1^st, Francesca Chaney

2^nd, Izzy Holding

3^rd, Caroline Shadlow

Day One, 8th grade

Biochemistry/Chemistry –

1^st, Xander Trotter

2^nd, Olivia Kannegiesser

3^rd, Braeden Foster

Botany/Zoology –

1^st, Christopher Renuard

2^nd, Linda LeGall

3^rd, Abigail Duncan

Engineering/Physics –

1^st, Bryson Waugh

2^nd, Kane Beard

3^rd, Dakota Flores

Environmental/Earth/Space Science –

1^st, Kadin Galviola

2^nd, Elle Johnson

3^rd, Margaret Stratton

Medicine/Health –

1^st, August Holding

2^nd, Charity Wolcott

3^rd, Garrett Case

Day One, 7th grade partners

Biochemistry/Chemistry –

1^st, James Grieshaber and Eathon Workman

1^st, Julia Willis and Lillie Sherrill

2^nd, Rylee Hipp and Brynlee Frame

3^rd, Makayla Remington and Adelynn Waller

Botany/Zoology –

1^st, Mallory Scraper and Payton Haley

Environmental/Earth/Space Science –

1^st, Brandon Hight and Joseph Unap

Medicine/Health –

1^st, Trinity Sickler and Presley Brown

2^nd, MaKenzie Tatum and Kodi Gaviola

3^rd, Hali Anderson and Samantha Seratte

Day One, 8th grade partners

Biochemistry/Chemistry –

1^st, Andrew Zagrabelny and Tanner Smith

2^nd, Alex Morgan and Riley Elrod

3^rd, Tatum Daughtry and Kyla Vining

Botany/Zoology –

1^st, Addison Holloway and Farren Wright

Engineering/Physics –

1^st, Benjamin Jeffries and Waylen Conley

2^nd, Isaac Long and Chase Tindell

Environmental/Earth/Space Science –

1^st, Sarah Campbell and Lindsey George

2^nd, Deyton Harney and Marissa Cantu

Medicine/Health –

1^st, AnnaBelle Wilcoxson and Alexis Thomas

2^nd, Kiara McGoy and Abby Johnson

3^rd, Emily Cody and Kadence Burress

Day two, 7th grade:

Biochemistry/Chemistry –

1^st, Madison Martin

2^nd, Caroline Perrier

3^rd, Laurel Moody

Botany/Zoology –

1^st, William Gruenwanld

Engineering/Physics –

1^st, Alyssa Yoho

2^nd, Cadence Dagenais

3^rd, Triston Hull

Environmental/Earth/Space Science –

1^st, Grace Morrison

2^nd, Romey Walker

3^rd, Elvernon White

Medicine/Health –

1^st, Noah Wilson

Day Two, 8th grade:

Biochemistry/Chemistry –

1^st, Skye Amberson

2^nd, Tyrel Richardson

3^rd, Ashley Bell

3^rd, Hannah Waller

Botany/Zoology –

1^st, Eleanor Walker

Engineering/Physics –

1^st, Vin Cass

2^nd, Alyese Radford

3^rd, Trevor Rye

Environmental/Earth/Space Science –

1^st, Corena Tiller

2^nd, Taylor Wade-Raffensperger

3^rd, Donna Gray

Math/Computer Science –

1^st, Kactus Benefiel

Medicine/Health –

1^st, Faith Rackliff

2^nd, Connor Easley

3^rd, Shae Bellamy

Day two, partners:

Biochemistry/Chemistry –

1^st, Malorie Gardner, Faith Cox, and Aidan Rhodes

2^nd, Trinity Kohnle and Charlee Nittler

3^rd, Gloria Baker and Kambrie Jones

Botany/Zoology –

1^st, Tylie Tignor and Chloe Broughton

2^nd, Justice Robertson and Dominic Mckinney

Engineering/Physics –

1^st, Squanto Brownwolf          Aden Hart

2^nd, Carson Dilbeck, Seth Kuhr, and Levi Porter

Medicine/Health –

1^st, Trey Brown, Elizabeth Lockett, and Trista Kelly

The first and second graders from Daposka Ahnkodapi presented projects this year for the fair.  The first graders’ project was How to Build a Ship; Floating Titanic and the second graders’ project was Guinea Pig Maze Brain-a-Thon. All of the Daposka Ahnkodapi students were awarded ribbons for doing such a great job, Holding said.

The first graders are:

Jacob Ballard

Shane Ventura Cass

Carsyn Crawford

Edward Gray

Dominic Shackelford

Emmett Smith

Kit Standingbear

The second graders are:

Camdan Bickford

Joseph Duty

Teegan Hail

Titan Harris

Luna Jacobs

Kynlie Jones

Stellah McKinley

Pehan RedCorn

Blaire Standingbear