Washington Times Herald: Area students earn awards at Team Crane Science Fair

April 21, 2016

Via Washington Times Herald CRANE - Students from 12 area schools entered 106 projects to compete in the 32nd Annual Team Crane Science Fair held at WestGate Academy Conferencing and Training Center on Wednesday. For students, the Team Crane Science Fair is a way to put into practice their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills. NSWC Crane STEM Coordinator Tina Closser helped organize the science fair and says the event is an opportunity to motivate students in STEM. “The purpose is to let them know there are other kids who like it…to kind of forward their interest in STEM and also to connect them with other companies. It’s a great networking event to see the STEM talent out there and for kids to see the STEM jobs that are in our area.” This was the first time Overall Senior Division winner Carina Greiner attended the Team Crane Science Fair. She says her project, “The role of friendship networks and motivational goals in interracial interactions”, helped her gain knowledge about the world around her. “I think Doctor Murphy’s lab has provided me with a phenomenal opportunity. Both of these studies are novel studies so it’s the first of its kind. To be at collegiate level research, groundbreaking research, as a high school student is such a wonderful opportunity for me. It’s definitely an experience I can build upon in the future.” Greiner is a senior at Brown County High School and will be attending Indiana University this fall. She will take her project to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, May 8. She also won the ASNE Award (given for representing naval engineering principles) and the Federally Employed Women Award (given for demonstrating leadership, equity, and advancement of women) at the Team Crane Science Fair. Ben Kizior of Jasper Middle School won the Overall Junior Division with his project “What material obstructs Wi-Fi signal the most?”. Students grades six through 12 were eligible to compete in ten categories: Behavioral Science, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Consumer Science, Earth, Space, and Environmental Science, Inventions and STEM projects, Math and Computer Science, Medicine and Health, and Physics. There were two divisions: Junior Division (grades 6 -8) and Senior Division (grades 9-12). Every category had first, second, and third place winners. Each division had an overall winner. There were also five unique awards and scholarships given from science-related organizations.