Tuvale Polu
wins overall Science Fair for secondary, Liana Gurr and Sonny
Manuma Tui take elementary divisions
by Tina Mata'afa
Samoa News Writer
Nine students
have claimed the overall top prizes in the 2008 American Samoa
Islandwide Science Fair that ended - after months of studying
and preparations - last week Friday during an awards ceremony
at the Kanana Fou gymnasium.
In the high school
division in which 136 students competed, Tuvale Polu took first
place overall. Billy Joe Larson took second place. Both students
are from Tafuna High School.
Pacific Horizons'
Noemi Suisala, who interned with Samoa News during the Business
and Professional Women of American Career Shadowing Day, took
third place.
In the upper
elementary competition, Liana Gurr of Manumalo Baptist Academy,
claimed first place overall; in second place is Joshua Finau
from Peter Coleman Elementary; and in third place is Llyn Eidwen
Whippy from Pacific Horizons School.
Sonny Manuma
Tui, a second grader at Leone Midkiff Elementary School, took
first place in the lower elementary school competition that consists
of two categories: the lower category for students level 1-4
and the upper category for students level five through eight.
Second place
winner in the lower elementary category is Aliceann N. Toleafoa
from Tafuna Elementary School and third place winner is Charu
Joserose of South Pacific Academy.
Following school
science fairs, the top winners from each school met March 10-13
for judging by members of the local scientific community. In
the elementary school division, 129 students competed and in
the high school division, 136 students competed.
Dept. of Education
Science coordinator Netini Sene told Samoa News that the fundamental
goal of the science fair is to encourage an interest in Science.
"While the
competitiveness can be quite demanding, the rewards, knowledge,
and experience gained by the participants makes this...event
an important part of science education," said Sene.
Students pick
a topic that they find interesting and have the resources to
test. A good project is one that can be completed by the student
with little or no help from parents or teachers and one that
will foster an inquisitive interest about new topics and further
studies, Sene explained.
"Science
fair enthusiasts can maximize their resources by using the internet
to research their topics. In fact, so many great Web sites exist
to foster ideas and explain the scientific method that students
often wonder where to start," Sene said. "To get the
most of the science experience, teachers are encouraged to conduct
hands-on teaching in classrooms, in order to connect theory and
the process of science. This will make learning so much and fun
and more meaningful."
She said it has
been reported that degrees awarded in science have declined lately,
therefore, "I believe such [a] decline can be improved with
more focus on the creative aspects of science. Science clubs,
and science fairs are excellent tools to connect students with
science."
Students received
cash prizes, trophies, t-shirts, school supplies, wahoo and cell
phones from Science Fair sponsors, whom Sene thanks for their
support. Sponsors included ASCC Land Grant, ASTCA, Blue Sky Communications,
ANZ Amerika Samoa Bank, Skyview Rentals, COS Samoa Packing, Mabuhay
Travel Agency, Houghton-Mifflin Publishing Company, Glenco Publishing
Company, Department of Education and Science Fair Judges.
Reach the
reporter at tina@samoanews.com.
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