Norwich to hold 52ND annual Vt. State Science and Math Fair

For Immediate Release
March 23, 2012

Contact: Daphne Larkin
802-485-2886 or 595-3613(m)
dlarkin@norwich.edu

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NEWS RELEASE

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Norwich University will once again host this year’s Vermont State Science and Mathematics Fair (VSSMF) to be held on Saturday, March 31, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning in Bartoletto Hall with an awards ceremony to follow in Dole Auditorium.

Vermont students in grades 5-12 who are winners of local competitions from 20 public and private and two home schools will display projects that address questions and solve problems in all areas of science, technology, engineering and/or math (STEM).

Accepted projects will be judged by at least three judges, separately, over the course of the morning to determine winners for medals, cash, trips and scholarships. Our approximately 150 Judges include industry scientists and engineers, secondary education faculty, medical professionals, military personnel and retirees, and other science related professionals from across Vermont who hold advanced degrees, have extensive experience, or both in the STEM disciplines.

Students compete for more than $8000 in cash and prizes, $13,000 in trip awards and expenses donated by local organizations, and $900,000 in scholarships to Vermont colleges. The fair is also affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair, and five other national and international competitions, which award additional prizes.

“Less than 10 percent of Vermont’s approximately 350 middle and high schools currently participate in the VSSMF. Many curricula require inquiry based science projects in middle school, yet few teachers are aware they can send 5th and 6th grade students to the VSSMF,” said Dr. Carlos Pinkham, co-director of VSSMF.

“High school students are involved in activities like Streams project or internships or service learning, but don’t connect these activities to science fair projects,” said Tricia Finkle, VSSMF co-director. “We work with teachers at no cost to them to help close this gap.”

The VSSMF, sponsored by the Vermont Principals’ Association, is an all-volunteer, non-profit [501(c)(3)] education organization supported by Norwich University and over 110 other Vermont organizations, colleges and industry partners who share our vision.

For more information, please contact Carlos Pinkham at 485-2319 or pinkhamc@norwich.edu or Tricia Finkle at scifair@norwich.edu.

This event is free and open to the public.

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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu