The Peru Gazette

L-R Living Environment/A.P. Biology Teacher Richard Hathway, Students Jacob Crawford, Ophelia Breen, Jacob Mitchell, Lauren Davey, and Josie Sabella. Thank you to Sarah Mitchell for this photo

“All five students put in much work beyond the school day.”

By John T Ryan 

Over the past twenty years, American schools have strived to strengthen their science programs. The emphasis on science followed a 2005 report titled Rising Above the Gathering Storm issued by the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. The report pointed out that our nation’s students were not progressing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at the same rate as students in other countries. It linked our nation’s prosperity to knowledge-intensive jobs dependent on science and technology and continued innovation to address societal problems.

Peru High School’s Chapter of the Science National Honor Society is one of the responses to the STEM challenge. The Society seeks to strengthen the science program and expand students’ interest in science. Richard Hathaway, the school’s Living Environment/A.P. Biology Teacher, commented, “The Society introduces students to self-directed, independent research similar to the university level. Upon completing the study, they are responsible for writing a research paper and creating a presentation board to be represented and judged at the Champlain Valley Regional Science Fair (CVPSF).” The CVRSF is a joint event sponsored and hosted by Clinton Community College and Plattsburgh State—the location of the fair alternates between the two sites each year.

On April 20, five Peru High School National Honor Society students participated in the 2024 CVRSF at Clinton Community College: Jacob Mitchell, Ophelia Breen, Jacob Crawford, Josie Sabella, and Lauren Davey. Hathaway stated, “All five students put in much work beyond the school day.” 

Jacob Mitchell measured the caloric content of three pre-workout mixes and examined whether the caloric content impacted performance during the weightlifting workout. He was trying to determine whether pre-workouts with high caloric content provide longer, sustainable energy during an exercise.

In a glass-tube model, Ophelia Breen and Jacob Crawford determined the effects of different rock salt concentrations on capillary action to understand road salts’ possible effects on water movement through plant tubes.

Josie Sabella and Lauren Davey studied the effects of repeatedly using the same lipstick. They wanted to understand whether repeatedly using the same lipstick over and over causes an increased accumulation of bacteria on lipstick and then apply this knowledge to the use of personal lipsticks and store “sampler/demo” lipsticks.

Lauren Davey and Josie Sabella took first place in the High School Research category. Ophelia Breen and Jacob Crawford took third place.

Because of their first-place finish at the  Champlain Valley Regional Science Fair, Josie and Lauren will travel to Syracuse on June 9, 2024, to present at the NYS Science Congress (https://stanys.org/Science-Congress/), where all local science fair winners from across N.Y. will present and compete.