Five students represented the Community Schools of Frankfort at the Hoosier State Science and Engineering Fair this past weekend in Indianapolis.
These students’ projects were selected at the regional competition to advance to the state level, and they covered a wide range of topics. Blue Sky Carreras Lantigua (5th grade) tested how different materials affect friction. Cristal Cruz (8th grade) studied how bilingualism impacts the brain’s ability to switch between tasks. Myles Freeman (7th grade) looked at how pressure affects the speed of a chemical reaction. Natalie Hodgen (8th grade) explored how temperature changes affect the amount of a substance needed to complete a chemical reaction. Ellis Shaffer (7th grade) analyzed how altitude impacts fatigue in professional basketball.
Three of these Frankfort students earned special recognition at the state competition. Myles Freeman received the Best Use of Physics Award from the American Association of Physics Teachers. Cristal Cruz was recognized for Best Implementation of STEM Principles for a Topic Relevant to Minority Populations by the National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. Ellis Shaffer earned the Most Innovative Research Award from the Office of Naval Research for the U.S. Navy.
The Hoosier State Science and Engineering Fair brings together top projects from across the state, making it a highly competitive event. Earning recognition at this level is a notable accomplishment, and having multiple students honored in the same year reflects the strength of Frankfort’s program. The Community Schools of Frankfort congratulates all of these students for their hard work and for qualifying to compete in the state competition this year.
