The Colorado Mineral Society

The 54th Annual
Colorado Science and Engineering Fair Report

On Thursday, April 9, six members of the Colorado Mineral Society had the pleasure of serving as judges for the Fifty-Fourth Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, held at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. CMS is one of a number of organizations that provide special awards for the competition that brings together interesting displays representing the research projects of junior and senior high school students from throughout the state. CMS is the only private organization that has presented a special award during the entire 54-year history of the state science fair. Bruce Geller, Judy Geller, Ray Horton, Jerry Kiefer, Paul Ralston, and Eva reviewed those that had an Earth Science theme, and then interviewed the student researchers. After difficult deliberation, they chose the following as deserving of recognition by CMS:

Senior Division, First Place: Zach Miller and Matt O’Keefe, 11th Grade, Cherry Creek High School, Greenwood Village, Colorado. The title of their project: The Removal of Copper Ions Through the Application of Natural and Synthetic Zeolites.

Senior Division, Second Place: Sean Buck, 12th Grade, Cherry Creek High School, Greenwood Village, Colorado. The title of Sean’s project: Reconstructing Paleoecosystems:
CommunityStructure Throughout the EECO.

Junior Division, First Place: Daniello Riggs, 8th Grade, Fruita 8/9 School, Fruita, Colorado. The title of Daniello’s project: Cooled Fast or Cooled Slow, How Big Will the Crystals Grow?
Junior Division, Second Place: Erin and Jessie McLaughlin, 7th Grade, Sacred Heart of Jesus School, Boulder, Colorado. The title of their project: The Seawell Solution.

Each of the winners received a copy of Roadside Geology of Colorado and a check, $40 for the First Place winners, and $25 for the Second Place winners. Each also received a Certificate of Achievement and mineral specimens from the Colorado Mineral Society and from the Flatirons Mineral Club.

This is an enjoyable project for the judges. We are always amazed at the talent we see in these young people. Any CMS member who would like to participate in the experience next year should make one of this year’s judges aware of your interest.