San Antonio names 5 entries to islandwide science contest

Five entries that obtained the highest grades were selected yesterday as the official representatives of San Antonio Elementary School to the upcoming Public School System Science Fair.

Typically the islandwide event draws over a hundred entries that vie for honors to compete in the Guam competition this year.

Hilda Rios, the school’s science fair and health and awareness committee chair, was elated with the turnout of yesterday’s event, which saw the participation of nearly 400 students and representatives of government agencies.

For more than five years, San Antonio had been simultaneously holding its science fair and health day to better promote learning and physical activities with the involvement of community members.

At the cafeteria, about 60 mostly individual entries competed in the science fair where participants were asked to demonstrate their projects.

There were four categories in the competition—life science, physical science, nutrition health and medical, and earth and space science.

Adjudged official entries to the islandwide science competition were “Recycling Paper,” entered by Alannah Mae C. Sablan, first grade; “Sprouting Carrot Tops” by Paula Mae Francisco, second grade; “Inorganic and organic,” entered by Christian Espinosa, second grade; “Sound,” entered by Stephen Barro, fourth grade; and “Color Changing Milk,” entered by Sina Palacios.

Alannah Sablan was excited about qualifying for the islandwide contest.

“I will do my best…I will explain my project fully and well to the judges,” she told Saipan Tribune.

The first grade champion said it took her awhile to prepare all the materials for her experiment. She amazed judges in her presentation about recycled papers.

Government agencies were also seen providing information to students in celebration of the school’s health day.

“We want the kids to learn more…and we can do that by bringing in the community into the campus. The learning and the knowledge they will gain from today’s activities will better prepare them for the future,” science and health committee head Hilda Rios told Saipan Tribune.

Runners-up in the science fair contest were Jerry Olkeriil, Lana Mendiola, Christian Espinosa, Christopher Aninzo, Mae Indalecio, Torinett Marie T. Camacho, Krizel V. Manuzon and Amy J. Liu, Yvonne Indalecio, and Leezle Iglecias.

Among the judges in yesterday’s competition were Sybilla Guerrero, Marlon Cabrera, Christy Sablan, Pamela Sablan, Cole Pritchard, Gus Camacho, Tony Benavente, and Merly Yamazaki.

Health day presenters included the Department of Public Health, American Red Cross, Emergency Management Office, Department of Public Safety, NMPASI, NMC-CREES, and Division of Sports and Recreation.