SIX NATIONS – Several science fair project winners from Six Nations and area elementary schools were submitted for consideration for the Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF) annual awards, and students from J.C. Hill, O.M. Smith/Kawenni:io, I.L. Thomas schools won recognition and awards for their work.
BASEF is a competition open to all Grade 7 through Grade 12 students from Hamilton, Halton Region, Haldimand County, Norfolk County, Brant County and Six Nations. Students may attend any public, separate or private school or be home schooled. Participants must be under the age of 21 before June of the BASEF year.
There is no entry fee to participate but more than $200,000 in cash, trips and scholarships were awarded this year.
Grade 7 students from I.L. Thomas School, Keegan Skye and Breanna Stewart entered their project titled, Baby Proof Me and won the BASEF 500 Award, Nikola Tesla Honourable Mention Award, and an Indigenous Peoples of Canada Scientific Award. Teachers Mrs. Skye and Ms. Mt. Pleasant are very proud of their students’ hard work.
“With everything that is going on in the community, Keegan and Breanna didn’t have a great deal of time to work on the project but they used what time they did have effectively and did a great job,” said Skye. “The two complemented each other so well. Breanna helped Keegan stay on task and was very organized, while Keegan had the idea of inventing a prototype and testing it on his little brother.”
Skye said that students from some of the schools off of the territory have been learning English since day one, whereas her students have only been learning Enlgish for the past few years, so the fact that her students have overcome some great difficulties and what some might call disadvantages—is very encouraging to her and the staff.
“They have come so far with what they have been faced with. When Keegan and Breanna came back after the fair, their classmates and peers were excited for them and some are encouraged now to take part next year.”
The other Six Nations students who received recognition and awards at BASEF were:
Takia Greene and Shailee Sandy won an Indigenous Peoples of Canada Scientific Award for their project, Brainaholic.
Jersee Hill and Jaden Squire won the Dr. Laura Blew Social Sciences Award and Primary Fluid Systems Award for their project, Investigating The Affects Of Domestic Violence.
Aiyana Jonathan and Amy Sandy won an Indigenous Peoples of Canada Scientific Award for their project, Water Filtration.
BASEF 2017 was sponsored by ArcelorMittal Dofasco and hosted by Mohawk College March 30 to April 4.
