The Northbrook Junior High ISR Science students proved they have the right stuff by earning first place at the Region 6 Division C Illinois Junior Academy of Science regional competition on Saturday, March 8 at Wheeling High School. NBJH received the most gold awards of any school at the fair for the second year in a row, earning them the Division C trophy.

A total of 38 students participated, and 31 earned gold awards. Due to a high number of participants from our region, 22 students will be moving on to the state science fair at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on May 1-3.

To qualify for regionals, the students received gold awards at the school-based competition. Each student made a presentation to a panel of three judges on a science research project they designed and completed in a semester-long independent science research class. The judges evaluate the oral presentation, the written work and the scientific method of the experiments based on the Illinois Jr. Academy of Science rubric.

In addition to qualifying for state, the follow students earned special recognition:

• Reese Mueller (Best in Category - Behavioral)
• Katie Yoon (Best in Category - Environmental Science, Illinois Water Environment Association Award, Qral Ventures Life Sciences Award)
• Sophie Kleckner (Iota Sigma Pi: The National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry - Honorable Mention)
• Madeline Feeney (Ivan Pavlov Behavioral Science Award)
• Cameron Pecora (Best in Category - Chemistry)

Special thanks to our three ISR teachers, Lauren Johnson, Amber Paull, and Fred Yoon who spend the semester coaching students as they design and conduct their research and sponsor them at the local, regional and state science fairs.