Two Newton County Theme School (NCTS) students—Katheryn Wilber and Alexander Ehret—brought home awards from the recent 2021 Georgia Science and Engineering Fair. Katheryn, a 7th-grader at NCTS, earned both the second place award and the prestigious Naval Science Awards for her project, “Which Mask Works Best?” Her project examined the spread of staphylococcus epidermidis during a simulated cough or sneeze to determine which mask works best at stopping the transfer of bacteria. Sixth-grade NCTS student, Alexander, earned an Honorable Mention for his research project to determine, “How Acid Rain Affects Plant Growth.”
“I am definitely impressed by the high caliber research projects both Katheryn and Alexander completed,” said Newton County School System Superintendent, Samantha Fuhrey. “It’s important to note that both of them were champions in our district and regional science fairs. Both students’ projects, as a result of the rigorous science fair competitions and procedures, have been thoroughly vetted by multiple judges; their research was top-notch and very deserving of state accolades.”
Fuhrey added, “I’m very proud of both Katheryn and Alexander. They have competed with students from across the state and represented our school system exceptionally well. And to think they are only in middle school! I can’t wait to see the research projects they submit in future years!”