A group of nine Elizabethtown College students and two alumni recently served as judges for the annual Classical Conversations Science Fair held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Elizabethtown on Feb. 20.
The group of judges, organized by Elizabethtown College A.C. Baugher Professor of Chemistry Dr. James MacKay, consisted of students from a variety of STEM disciplines.
“This experience is such a great opportunity for our students and Elizabethtown College,” MacKay said. “In addition to us having the chance to use our expertise in science and share it with the community, we also have the privilege to share our talents in a way that exemplifies the College’s Educate for Service motto.”
The event is hosted annually by the local section of Classical Conversations, an international classical Christian homeschool organization. Twenty-five junior high students from the Elizabethtown, Harrisburg, and Mechanicsburg areas showcased their work at this year’s event.
Etown judges included current students Ryan Bennett ’28, Whitney Davis ’27, Ceinwyn Erb ’28, Munia Kamal ’27, Isabella La Face ’27, Avonlea Lechleitner ’28, Gage Lucas ’28, Noah Lynch ’28, and Sacha Prasad ’27, along with alumni Jennah Hoke ’25 and Kaylynn Leap ’23.
“Judging the Classical Conversations Jr. High Science Fair for the past two years has been a meaningful experience because it allowed me to see science from a younger student’s perspective,” Bennett said. “As someone who plans to become a high school chemistry teacher, this experience felt especially relevant and helped me grow in giving constructive feedback and encouraging curiosity, as these skills will be essential in my future classroom.”
As students presented their work, Etown judges provided meaningful feedback and relevant insight. After deliberating, the judges awarded first, second, and third place to the top projects.
“Being able to serve and engage with the community I am so thankful to be part of, has been and continues to be an incredible source of fulfillment,” Lucas said. “Elizabethtown College has given me not only a comprehensive education, but opportunities to bond with my professors in ways I never dreamed of when coming out of high school.”
