Over the past few years, interest in the Science Fair at HHS has been dwindling down to nearly nothing. During the 2012-2013 school year, Science Fair meant a packed gym and dozens of students standing proudly before their projects, presenting their information to a slew of classmates as they cycled through the room. Yet flash forward to the next year, and Science Fair consisted of six teams gathered in HHS’s multipurpose room during lunch, reciting their detailed project summaries to a few teacher judges as the period dragged on. Though the school’s overall interest in the Science Fair has diminished, those students who are involved in the science fair are quite dedicated to the promises of their projects.

Mr. Patrick Newton, Science Fair adviser for the past few years, has always assisted students in flourishing their scientific hypotheses and developing their ideas into sophisticated experiments that hold immense relevancy in today’s world. Unfortunately, Mr. Newton had to take a step back from his assistance with the Science Fair when his first child was brought into the world, realizing that he could not commit to both a newborn baby and the obligations brought on by the annual Science Fair.

Students walked into the 2014-2015 school year under the impression that Science Fair might not happen this year; dedicated supporters and participants of science fair, myself included, were adamant against the event being terminated. Ally Knight, a junior  and my longtime Science Fair partner, believed that she, along with others, would not go down without a fight. “With Mr. Newton not advising the Science Fair, I was willing to do anything to make it happen,” she said. “I know that everyone involved wouldn’t be able to let it go, and we would go to great lengths to make sure we got our chance to make it to regionals and states.”

But luckily, Science Fair hopefuls won’t be deprived this spring, as Mrs. Emerson has generously taken on the responsibility of becoming this year’s  advisor. This is her very first year becoming involved in the Science Fair and she looks toward it with high hopes for impressive projects and successful students.