On Thursday, February 13, the 11th Annual Miami County Science Day was held at Tippecanoe High School for students in grades 5-12. This event offered students a venue that promotes the development of creative thinking, research and writing skills and career motivation toward the sciences, all in one program. Seventy-seven students from Tipp City, Miami East, Covington, Piqua, Milton-Union and the Upper Valley Career Center, completed and exhibited projects in animal Science, plant science, chemistry, environmental sciences, computers, microbiology, energy, physics, engineering, mathematics, medicine & health and behavioral & social sciences.
The fifty-three students receiving “Superior” ratings were:
Tippecanoe HS: Sadhil Mehta, Colin Snider, Aubrey Ernst, Audrey Jackson and Ela Van Oss
Tippecanoe MS: Rohan Patel, Oliva Phillips, Emma Phillips, Emily Riehle, Cali Sevitts, Lillian Snell, Lily Van Oss, Joshitha Kondapalli, Max Lesher, and Jaxen Anderson
L.T. Ball Intermediate: Ujval Kondapalli, Bailey Aston, Corine Outten, Adhwaith Ega, Myles Osborne, and Vincent Ralston
Covington MS: Tessa Lyons, Natalie Parke, Alva Hess, Brayden Lasater, Claira Boothe, Lucy Foutz, and Brianna Pfoutz
Miami East HS: Kara Hale
Miami East JHS: Sawyer Bates, Anderson White, Madison Tarcea, Cydney Huelsman, Asher Vonderembse, Brooke Barnes, Emma Register, Cameron Helsinger, Mason Dillon, Baine Clark, Elizabeth Iiames, Lily Nation, Anna Mitchell, Ellie Gelhar, Jackson Gray, Harlan Fulton, and Klara Black
Milton Union HS: Liam Hartley
Milton-Union MS: Zachary Limbert, Finn Hinkelman; from Upper Valley Career Center – Kenzi Koester, Kaelin Steward, Avery Simon, and Taylor Schmitmeyer
These students are eligible to go to the District Science Day held at Edison State Community College on March 8.
Fifty area teachers, professionals and community members volunteered to judge the projects. Event sponsors donated awards and gift certificates in an amount totaling $3,200, plus additional event sponsorships. Sponsors included Tipp City Rotary Club, Cargill, Shook Construction, Premier Health – UVMC, Abbott Nutrition, Tipp Monroe Optimists Club, Tippecanoe Masonic Lodge No. 174, Lightle Family Science Fund, North Star BlueScope Steel, James McGarry, Miami County Soil & Water Conservation District, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, John A. Smith Memorial Fund, Royal Crest Insurance, Hickory River Smokehouse, the McMurry Family, Dave Werts, Georgia Bayman, David Shepherd, the Chaney family, the Wahl family, Martin E. English, DVM and the event host Tippecanoe High School.
Aubrey Ernst, Audrey Jackson & Ela Van Oss, Tippecanoe HS were awarded the Grand Prize of $200 sponsored by Shook Construction. Sadhil Mehta, Tippecanoe HS, received $100 for 2nd place, and Rohan Patel, Tipp MS, received $100 for 3rd place, both sponsored by Dave Werts and Georgia Bayman.
2025 Science Fair Project Topic Categories Awards Winners:
Cargill Awards for Animal Science ($50 each): Emily Riehle, Tipp MS, Tessa Lyons and Natalie Parke, Covington MS
Shook Construction Awards in Behavioral Science: 1st ($100) Kara Hale, Miami East HS, 2nd ($50) Sawyer Bates and Anderson White, Miami East JHS, 3rd ($50) Brooke Barnes and Emma Register, Miami East JHS
Royal Crest Insurance Award in Behavioral Science ($50): Joshitha Kondapalli, Tipp MS
Tippecanoe Masonic Lodge Award in Behavioral Science ($50): Corine Outten, Tipp LT Ball
Shepherd Awards in Chemistry: 1st ($100) Lily Nation, Miami East JHS, 2nd ($50) Vincent Ralston, Tipp LT Ball
Shook Construction Awards in Energy or Material Science: 1st ($100) Olivia Phillips, Tipp MS, 2nd ($50) Colin Snider, Tipp HS
J. A. Smith Memorial Award in Energy/Material Science ($50): Liam Hartley, Milton-Union HS
North Star BlueScope Steel Award in Engineering, Computer Science or Robotics: 1st place ($100) Liam Hartley, Milton-Union HS
Tippecanoe Masonic Lodge Awards in Engineering, Computer Science or Robotics x ($50 each): Aubrey Ernst, Audrey Jackson & Ela Van Oss, Tipp HS, Sadhil Mehta, Tipp HS, Zachary Limbert and Finn Hinkelman, Milton-Union MS
Chaney Family Award for Engineering Design ($100 plus Trophy): Colin Snider, Tipp HS
James McGarry Awards for Environmental or Plant Sciences x 2 ($100 each): Jaxen Anderson, Tipp MS, Cameron Helsinger and Mason Dillon, Miami East JHS
Miami County Soil & Water Conservation District Award in Environmental Science ($50): Baine Clark, Miami East JHS
Cargill Award in Environmental Science ($50): Calli Sevitts, Lillian Snell and Lily Van Oss, Tipp MS
Premier Health-UVMC Award in Medicine & Health Sciences or Microbiology: 1st ($100) Kenzi Koester & Kaelin Steward, UVCC, 2nd & 3rd ($50 each) Harlan Fulton and Klara Black, Miami East JHS, Emma Phillips, Tipp MS
Lightle Family Science Fund Award in Medicine & Health Sciences ($50): Avery Simon and Taylor Schmitmeyer, UVCC
Shook Construction Awards in Physics 1st ($100) Rohan Patel, Tipp MS, 2nd/3rd ($50 each) Ujval Kondapalli, Tipp MS, Madison Tarcea and Cydney Huelsman
Other Sponsored Awards:
Abbott Nutrition – each awardee received a scientific kit and medallion:
“One Team, One Voice, One Goal” Award -Tessa Lyons & Natalie Parke, Covington MS
“I am Accountable” Award - Aubrey Ernst, Audrey Jackson and Ela Van Oss, Tipp HS
“I am a Leader” Award - Kara Hale, Miami East HS
“I Drive Continuous Improvement” Award - Colin Snider, Tipp HS
“I will make Timely, Fact-based Decisions” Award - Sadhil Mehta, Tipp HS
“My Work Matters” Award - Jeralyn Leland & Camelia Rossiter, UVCC
Shook Construction Awards for Best Presentation of Data (Tables & Graphs) ($50 grades 9-12): Kara Hale, Miami East HS, ($50 grades 5-8) Jackson Gray, Miami East JHS
Tipp-Monroe Optimists Award for Best Abstract x 3 ($50): Jaxen Anderson, Tipp MS, Kara Hale, Miami East HS, Sadhil Mehta, Tipp HS
McMurry family “Spirit of Science” Award ($100): Lily Van Oss, Tipp MS
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery – One Adult Pass x 4: Asher Vanderembse, Miami East JHS, Ujval Kondapalli, Tipp MS, Bailey Aston, Tipp LT Ball, Corine Outten, Tipp LT Ball
The students, the Upper Miami Valley Science Days Committee, and the Tipp City Schools Math & Science Departments wish to thank all of the sponsors and volunteers for making the 2025 Miami County Science Day a successful event. Anyone with questions about the Science Day program should contact Dr. Martin English, 790 E. Shoop Rd., Tipp City, OH 45371, or email: info@ohioumvsd.com / website: www.ohioumvsd.com.