ESFDB names school-level STEM Fair winners

The Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja cafeteria was recently full of 1st to 8th grade student scientists with their projects for the annual school-level Science Technology Engineering Mathematics Fair.

The annual school level STEM Fair showcases the school’s talented and brightest students.

The subjects and experiments of the projects were chosen by the students themselves and were judged by members of the Luta scientific community such as science teachers or majors.

The STEM Fair featured seven categories: life science, physical science, earth and space science, health and nutrition and medical, behavioral and social science, technology and electronics, and mathematics.

Mary Rose Lucero, science teacher and science fair coordinator, said, “I am always amazed by the creativity and effort the students put into their projects.”

Lucero has been coordinating the STEM Fair in the last two years and the school has sent about 18 projects to the CNMI Wide STEM Fair, placing first, second, and third place finishes.

For the first time, the school took home the overall first place win at the CNMI Fair last year. The win brought the school to another level of competition at the 35th Annual Guam Islandwide Science Fair—an impressive record for the small school who took first place at the Guam Fair.

According to ESFDB administrator/principal Carmen H. Atalig, “Science not only helps encourage children to learn more about the world around them, it helps build a local pool of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, or even doctors.”

“We are proud of all these amazingly bright and talented students,” added Atalig.

‘This year’s school level winners are John Anthony Tobongbanua (1st Grade), MJ Mahusay (2nd Grade), Agatha Marie Gascon (2nd Grade), Maria Althea Mendiola (4th Grade), Jeremy John Atalig II (5th Grade), Tyra Reese Calvo (7th Grade), and Angelica Lucero (8th Grade).

These winners will be heading to Saipan sometime in March to represent the school and the Luta community at the PSS CNMI Wide STEM Fair.

“This is my second time to compete [on] Saipan. Last time I took third place and I am thinking positive in this year’s fair,” said Calvo.

Lucero said she will try her best and hopefully represent the CNMI again at the Guam STEM Fair.

“I am happy and excited,” said Gascon of her win at the school-level science fair. “This is my first science project and I will have a chance to compete [on] Saipan.”

“I encourage parents to continue helping their child in this worthwhile event. Who knows where the future will take the child in this science fair. One thing is for sure, these bright young minds are evidence that science can be fun, not to mention rewarding,” said ESFDB board president Edward Maratita Jr.

The judges were Rev. Fr. Charlie Borja, Francisco Calvo, Alejandro Badilles, Tita Hocog, and Edward Maratita Jr. Tita Hocog donated the prize. [B][I](ESFDB)[/I][/B]