Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Science fair grows at primary school

The second annual Gurdon Primary School Science Fair took place Friday, with eight students winning the right to compete in the district competition on May 13 at the Henderson State University Garrison Center.

Pam Runyan, third grade teacher at GPS, has been in charge of the science fair for GPS both years.

She said there were nine students with projects last year, with approximately 30 entering this year and 20 completing.

"It is really growing here," she said. "If we had not had students out with the flu, I know closer to the original 30 would have finished. These students worked very hard and are to be commended."

In regard to the winners who will compete at district, they came from K-4 this year. Last year, it was only third and fourth graders, she said.

Winners were: Sebastian Chester, kindergarten; Jordan Sanford, first grade; Bret Ashton Renfro, second grade; with Brandon Buck getting second and also going to district; third grade, Malia Chester, first, and Trent McDowell, second; and fourth grade, Brian Hittenrauch, first place and Terry Franklin, second.

Other participants were: kindergarten, Joshua LeMay; second grade, Kelan Buford, Harley Thomas, David Edmondson, Annabeth Dillard; third grade, Anna Clark, Drew Kuhn, Wesley Dotson and Stacy Contreras; fourth grade, Hannah Jones and Emily Williams.

As to the projects receiving first this year, in kindergarten, Sebastian Chester did his on recycling; first grader Jordan Sandford did one on candy; second grader Bret Ashton Renfro did one on the fresh look of new coins; third grader Malia Chester had wind power; and fourth grader Brian Hittenrauch had one on the solar system.