The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
LEEP students show off projects
Students show off projects at fair
A rainbow bubble snake, magnetic slime, an “eggcano” and a walking rainbow are just a few of the projects that were on display at the LEEP Science Fair.
The Lake Employment Experience Program has held the annual science fair for at least the last 10 years, giving program participants a chance to showcase their science skills.
The event held at Broadmoor School on Feb. 15, included 24 participants from the LEEP program and their guides.
“The LEEP students have selected a scientific principle, developed a theory, tested it with an experiment and summarized their findings in a conclusion statement,” said Lynnmarie Phillips, director of public relations for Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities/Deepwood, in a Feb. 7, news release.
Lake County Commissioners Daniel Troy and John Hamercheck were present and talking to students about their projects.
“I think it’s an opportunity for science to enter into their lives and they can apply what they learn,” said Hamercheck who was most impressed with the students’ explanations of their projects. “There is a twinkle and energy they have.”
Scott Schiavoni, was eager to talk about his science project “Slime Rocks,” in which he made ordinary slime magnetic by mixing iron fillings into the slime and the reaction made it magnetic.
Zach Watren’s experiment called “the egg-cano” involved cracking the tops off of eggs and emptying the contents before filling them with Diet Coke and dropping in a Mentos Candy to create a fizzy overflow mimicking a volcano eruption.
Jonathan Hewitt did an experiment to find out which ingredients worked best in homemade soap to make the best bubbles. He demonstrated his experiment
called “the rainbow snake” by blowing bubbles made of different ingredients and colors through a bottle. He discovered of all the ingredients he tried glycerin worked the best.
At the end of the science fair, Hamercheck and Troy presented certificates to
the students who participated. The youths were excited to receive the awards as many of them danced or high-fived their way up to receive to their certificates.
“I am totally blown away by some of the science experiments you young men and woman have put together
today. This is totally fantastic,” Troy told the students before he and Hamercheck presented the certificates.
He also jokingly asked them all where they had been when he needed them in biology class.
“We have such a wonderful developmentally disabled program here in Lake County with so many facets,” Troy said. “Broadmoor School — a lot of counties don’t have a school like this, a facility to really allow these special citizens to develop their full potential and when you look at some of the work they’ve done on the science projects here today its just wonderful.”
According to Elfie Roman, superintendent of the LCBDD, every year this event is something that makes us realize the skills, abilities and talents of these students.
“It’s just wonderful that every year more people from the community are coming in to see the wonderful talent and joy that our students have from their learning experiences here,” Roman said, “It’s great to see the camaraderie among all the students, all the high-fives that go on, how they help each other and know about each others experiments and support each other. It’s an incredible perspective of the world.”