BRITTON-DEERFIELD SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS CELEBRATED

$4,500 IN SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AWARDED

DEERFIELD, MI – Make that two wins in a row for Ashley Frye.  The Deerfield 12th Grader was awarded $1,000 in scholarship money at the 2011 Science Fair.

In all, seven students split a total of $4,500 in scholarship award money, ranging from $500 for top projects in each of Grades 6-10, and $1,000 each for the top projects in Grades 11 and 12. With no entry from Grade 10, a $500 award was presented for second-place from Grade 12.

A total of 24 students participated in the 2011 Britton-Deerfield Science Fair, held in the gymnasium at Deerfield School. “The students really stepped it up this year,” said Jon Way, Middle School Science Teacher.

Frye’s project was Bio-fuel Production By-Product Applications in (Farm Animal) Feed Rations. Frye last year also won a $1,000 scholarship award for her 11th Grade project. “I want to study agri-science at MSU,” Frye said. “The money will help.”

All projects were better this year, according to Middle School Science Teacher Scot Pifer. “They were more complex and the kids presented them better,” Pifer said.

Michael H. D. Bowman, Principal, added, “I can’t wait to see what they bring next year.”

This was the first time combined Britton-Deerfield schools science fair. Last year it was Deerfield Schools only. Both years the fair has been sponsored by James A. and Sharon A. O’Brien, of LaSalle, MI. The O’Briens also donate all of the award money presented.

Jim and Sharon O’Brien are Principals of O’Brien Engineered Products, Inc. of Deerfield, MI. “I got interested in science and engineering through a high school science fair,” James O’Brien said. “We hope to spark interest among future scientists,” added Sharon O’Brien.

Science Fair Judges this year included Matt Roush, writer of the Great Lakes Innovation and Technology Report, and engineers, many of them associated with NRG Dynamix, of Deerfield, MI.

NRG Dynamix is a research and development firm founded by James O’Brien. The company’s full-series hydraulic hybrid system promising up to a 60 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and up to a 90 percent reduction in emissions in military vehicle and truck applications is scheduled for market introduction later this year.

For more information on NRG Dynamix, go to www.nrgdynamix.com.