By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

Learning to ask questions, developing a hypothesis, testing, analyzing, drawing conclusions, proving if the hypothesis is true or not and finally reporting the results.

These are all the steps in the classic Scientific Method – something that the students in Pam Mills’ science classes at Dexter’s T.S. Hill Middle School know all too well.

The students have been busy all spring in preparing science projects, using these traditional steps to design, execute their experiments. A local science fair was held earlier this semester, and 35 students recently returned from the Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair with 34 awards for Dexter students.

More than 340 students from 28 regional school districts participated in the annual Science Fair.

Four Dexter middle school students brought home first place awards:

• Drake Mitchell placed first in the Junior Medicine and Health Division. Drake also won a $100 savings bond from the Cape West Rotary Club; the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps Award, BROADCOM MATSTERS Applied Science Award (and an invitation to compete for the $25,000 grand prize) and Best Experimental Study Award;

• Miranda Rogers placed first in Junior Biochemistry, as well as BROADCOM MATSTERS Applied Science Award (and an invitation to compete for the $25,000 grand prize), and Best Experimental Study award;

• Afton Harris placed first in Junior Chemistry, and BROADCOM MATSTERS Applied Science Award (and an invitation to compete for the $25,000 grand prize) and Best Experimental Study Award;

• Honey Patel placed first in Junior Earth and Space Sciences; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Environmental Award, BROADCOM MATSTERS Applied Science Award (and an invitation to compete for the $25,000 grand prize) and Best Experimental Study Award;

Other awards include:

• Zach Midkiff won the American Chemical Society $50/Junior Chemistry;

• Brooks Probst placed second in Junior Botany;

• Alexis Smith placed second in Junior Medicine and Health;

• Brandon Berry placed second in Junior Medicine and Health;

• MacKinlee Rogers placed second in Junior Medicine and Health;

• Colton Averett placed second in Junior Biochemistry;

• Rachel Putnam placed second in Junior Biochemistry;

• Shayna Bess placed third in Junior Behavioral and Social Sciences;

• Hayley Chapman placed third in Junior Chemistry;

• Madison Christian placed third in Junior Chemistry;

• Katie DeWitt placed third in Junior Medicine and Health;
• Keasha Hubbert placed third in Junior Chemistry;

• Toppy Hux placed third in Junior Behavioral and Social Sciences;

• Brandon Quertermous placed third in Junior Chemistry;

• Katie Reiker placed third in Junior Medicine and Health;

• Oliver Warren placed third in Junior Environmental Science;

• Kelsi Wood placed third in Junior Chemistry


According to Mills there were 267 Junior Projects, more than any year since 2005. Junior Division schools included Cape Junior High, Delta, Dexter, Farmington, Gideon, Leopold, Malden, Nell Holcomb, Oak Ridge, Poplar Bluff, Portageville, Risco, Sacred Heart Catholic School in Poplar Bluff, Scott City, St. Ambrose in Chaffee, St. Denis in Benton, St. Paul Lutheran in Jackson, St. Vincent in Perryville, Trinity Lutheran in Cape Girardeau and Twin Rivers.

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