The 12th annual Evans City schools’ PTO science fair held on March 17 showcased a record 85 science projects from 170 students.

Students in kindergarten through sixth grade created and presented experiments to the large crowds. Projects included the investigation of environments that grow crystals and an exploration of candles and their ability to burn. Students also demonstrated scientific principles such as density and electricity. 

New to the event this year were volunteer guest judges, who assessed the fifth-and-sixth-grade student projects. Th 10 community members judged the students on their ability to use the scientific method in their projects.

Chad Broman, Rihann Ganget, Greg Haughey, Eric Kuptz, John McGaa, Renee Morgan, Lorin Meeder, Mike Sedon and Rod Smith represented the Butler School District, BASF Global, North Allegheny School District, Cranberry Township and the Pittsburgh National Weather Service as they evaluated about 75 student projects.

BASF, Carnegie Science Center, Cranberry Cinemas, Fun Fore All, Goodfello’s Pizza, Pasta, & Grille, Kampas Orthodontics, Learning Express and Westinghouse also all donated prizes that were awarded to students who proved their use of proper experimentation.

Andrew Lingenfelter, a freshman at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, and his father, Thor Lingenfelter, a chemist for PPG, also gave demonstrations of various scientific concepts.

The event’s organizers credited the fair’s success to the dedicated science students who spent time outside of school to research scientific concepts, investigate their world and share their knowledge.

Organizers also thanked parents, teachers and principals for their support as well as the guest judges and those who donated prizes for the fair.

-- Photos and information submitted by Susan Peet on behalf of the Evans City Parent Teacher Organization. Have news you'd like to share with Patch readers? Email information and photos to Editor Jessica Sinichak at jessica.sinichak@patch.com or visit our Neighborhood Gallery.