Cloquet Students Compete at NAISEF

Submitted Photo

Apr 6

By: Dr. Cynthia Welsh

Four Cloquet Senior High School and two Cloquet Middle School students along with their Teacher Mentor Cynthia Welsh, and Thomas Howes, Fond du Lac Natural Resources Director, attended the National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair (NAISEF) March 23 to 27, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Over 250 American Indian Students from across the United States competed with their science research projects. At this fair one project is chosen for each grade/category level to receive a project award. Many special awards are given and six projects are chosen as Grand Award winners that will advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, in Lo Angeles this May.

All of the high school students received a first place medal in their category, including tenth graders Alec Lamirande and his partner Preston Jackson (Engineering: Materials & Bioengineering), Cassandra Roy (Biochemistry) and senior Courtney Jackson (Earth & Space Science). Middle school student Riley Howes (Plant Science project titled: Giadda izhi’aag ina ji-gaagiigidowaad ingiw akikoog? Can you make the pots talk?) was awarded a first place project medal and Emily Roy (Earth and Space Science project tilted: The effect of shoreline succession on wild rice growth) was awarded a second place project medal and the NOAA: Taking the Pulse of the Planet Special Award.

All students, from across the United States, were asked to take a four page math skills test. Seventh graders Riley Howes received first place and Emily Roy second place. Cassandra Roy received a first place in 10th grade math.

Courtney Jackson was awarded the American Meteorology Award, also, and received the AISES Tribal Elder’s Cowin Arther Ost Memorial Award for a project that best overcame limited resources and showed a high degree of creativity and effort. Courtney also won the Top U. S. Navy STEM Award. The Naval officer that gave Courtney the award was noted as saying that “Ms. Jackson’s project was extraordinary!”

Cassandra Roy was awarded the Office of Naval Research Award, the American Chemical Society Award, and the Oklahoma Chapter of AISES Tribal Science Award. Preston Jackson and Alec Lamirande were awarded the ASM Material Science Award and were given the Honorable mention U. S. Naval STEM Research Award. They were each given a Naval Coin, normally only given to naval enlisted people from their commander, when they have shown extreme bravery and/or effort.

Three of the six top Grand Awards for the day were presented to Cassandra Roy and her project titled: The Effect of Carbohydrate Composition (sucrose/hexose ratio) of Nectar on the Type of Pollinators That Might Pollinate Two Species of Brassicaceae (B. juncea and B. rapa), and Courtney Jackson and her project tilted: The Coronae Paradox: The use of Visual Basic to determine circular low formation based upon maps created using Magellan radar data in order to determine the process(es) of coronae formation and the overall geologic history of circular lows on Venus—Phase IV.

Grand Award winners were Preston Jackson and Alec Lamirande with their project titled: Stopping Power! The use of non-Newtonian fluid and recycled paper and plastic to stop a projectile and possibly be used in a bullet proof vest—Phase IV.

All Cloquet students were mentored by Dr. Cynthia Welsh, Cloquet science research instructor. Technical mentorship was also provided by many area professionals. Cassandra Roy was given assistance from University of MN Biology Professor, Dr. Clay Carter and graduate student Megan Fekete; Courtney Jackson from UMD Geology Professor Dr. Vicki Hansen; Riley Howes and Emily Roy from University of MN Anthropology Instructor Dr. Robert Thompson and Thomas Howes, Fond du Lac Natural Resources; Alec Lamirande and Preston Jackson were given assistance from Peter Myhrwold, Cloquet Physic Teacher.

The four Cloquet High School students will travel to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May to compete with 1600 student from 60 countries for over 8 million dollars in scholarships and prizes The American Indian Science and Engineering Societies (AISES) mission is to “increases the representation of American Indian and Alaska Natives in engineering, science and other related technology fields (www.aises.org).”

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