Great Falls Science Fair
CCE Merit Awards for 2025 GFC-MSU Regional Science & Engineering Fair
Citizens for Clean Energy of Great Falls (ccemontana.org) evaluated eleven student projects addressing renewable energy, atmospheric carbon dioxide and carbon sequestration at this year’s science fair. Over 200 students from area schools participated in the event, hosted by Great Falls College MSU. Award funding of $400 was provided by the Dr. David W. Baker Student-Science Memorial Foundation.
2025 Winners
The following ten students received CCE Outstanding Participation merit awards and cash:
High School
High School
- Audrey Rumney, 12th Grade, Cascade, “Lipid Production in E-coli with the Addition of Glucose and Yeast” (improving biofuel efficiency) — $40
- Janto van Hettinga, 11th Grade, North Toole County, “Assessing Iron’s Effect on Phytoplankton” (promoting carbon sequestration) — $80
- Elonso Benjamin, 10th Grade, North Toole County, “The Effect of Perforations on Airfoil Aerodynamics” (increasing aircraft fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions) — $80
- Olin Oestreich, 8th Grade, Moore, “Bats Breaking Wind” (adjusting wind turbine operation to reduce bat mortality) — $50
- Gabriel Conchas, 8th Grade, Our Lady of Lourdes, “Windmills” (testing wind turbine designs) — $10
- Raya Segnella, 7th Grade, Sunburst, “Reducing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide” (using chemical reactions to capture carbon) — $60
- Cassandra Dobbins & Pam Hegg, 6th Grade, Sun River, “Computer Systems Robotics” (using motorized solar trackers to increase efficiency of compact solar panels) — $60
- Tucker McAlpine & Dartanian Widhalm, 6th Grade, Sunburst, “More Power” (testing horizontal versus vertical wind turbines) — $20
