Event sparks interest in science fields

--Rubin Sherwood
Fourteen physic students, along with teachers Carl Behrens and Dawn Kenyon, traveled to Barton Community College to take part in the Jack Kilby Science Day 2008 on October 20.

The event gave participants opportunities to learn about science topics.

To begin the day, keynote speaker Dr. Peer Moore-Jansen educated his audience with a presentation about “Forensic Anthropology: Bone Detectives and Human Identification.” Moore-Jansen, a forensic anthropologist who has worked extensively with law enforcement agencies in Kansas and surrounding states, is currently undertaking a long-term cemetery excavation in Poland.

Following the presentation, students attended breakout sessions of their choice. These sessions included information about biology, ecology, chemistry, math, the Internet, motion and animation, electricity, sound, food packaging, forensics, computer game programming, electromagnetics, to name a few.

Two TCHS groups participated in math and science bowls. The team of Cassie Herskowitz, Teran Frick, and Olivia Fabrizius placed 3^rd in the science contest.

Behrens, physics instructor, commented about the purpose of the event.

Fourteen students attended the Jack Kilby Science Day at Barton Community College on October 20: (front from left) Chantel W., Olivia Fabrizius, Cassie Herskowitz and Teran Frick: (Back) Brooke S., Liz Schoenberger, Shane Pfeifer, Evan Cronn, Chad Jamison, Brandon Eberle, Jordan Olson, Ryan Pfannenstiel, Taylor Hobbs, and Scott Pfannenstiel.  Fabrizius, Herskowitz and Frick display the plaque they won in a science bowl game.

"The trip gave students experience in moving around a college campus, and it gave them a chance to see different demonstrations or ideas they don’t experience here, especially in areas of forensics or medicine. It was also a reward for being enrolled in an upper level class and, of course, it was free.”

Science Club members Brooke S. and Olivia Fabrizius clean up trash along Highway 283. The activity serves as a service project for the community and points for the Senior Class trip to Denver in the spring. (Photo by Carl Behrens)

Students celebrate Mole Day

--Rubin Sherwood
The Chemistry II students enjoyed a day of delicious pancakes and drinks as they celebrated Mole Day on October 23.

The mole is the SI unit for count, which is equal to 6.02 x 10²³. It is also called Avogadro’s number.

 To mark the day, Teacher Carl Behrens suggested the idea to the Chemistry II class that they make and serve pancakes to the faculty.  Teachers enjoyed their choice of chocolate chip, blueberry, or regular pancakes, topped with peanut butter, jelly, butter, whipped cream, etc. Students also served milk, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, orange juice and apple juice.  

LEFT: Assisted by Eric Cunningham, Matt Dietz butters the frying pan in order to cook pancakes for faculty on Mole Day. Mole Day was celebrated by the Chemistry II class on October 23.  (Photo by Rubin