The Show Me Center was filled Tuesday with several months' worth of hard work that local students put into scientific experiments for the 47th annual Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair.

As judges inspected the 150 project entries behind closed doors, seventh-grader Sarah Eichhorn from St. Joseph School in Scott City stood near the Show Me Center entry, fidgeting as she waited for the interview process to begin.

"I'm worried I won't know what to say or do when judges interview me," Eichhorn said. "I'm nervous, but excited too."

It was her first science fair, but one that she's prepared for since January when work began on her project, which tested the efficiency of liquid versus powder laundry detergents.

"It's been very cool," Eichhorn said. "There are a lot of projects I'm very impressed with."

Students from the Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Leopold, Caruthersville, Nell Holcomb, Oak Ridge, Kelso, Kennett, Scott City, South Pemiscot and Farmington school districts, as well as Valle Catholic School in Ste. Genevieve, St. Vincent de Paul School in Cape Girardeau, St. Ambrose School in Chaffee, St. Denis School in Benton, St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson, St. Joseph School in Scott City all participated in this year's fair.

The annual fair is conducted by Southeast Missouri State University, the Southeast Missourian, Drury Southwest, Hathaway Consulting and numerous other businesses and organizations.

A panel of 48 judges, made up of university officials, representatives from local businesses and school districts, was charged with determining the top three projects in each of 12 categories.

Judge Cliff Lankheit, a science teacher with the Sikeston School District, said he was excited by the work put into this year's entries.

"Students always see unique ways of testing things that we haven't even thought of," Lankheit said. "They're quite creative."

Science fair judge Wanda Throop, who also served on this year's fair committee, said she feels it's important for students to participate in fairs so they get an idea of what science is really about.

"Students are more enthusiastic about science when they're able to do something hands-on and experiment," said Throop, a science teacher with the Sikeston School District.

Judging concluded around 3 p.m., and participants returned for an awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m.

Denise Brinkmeyer, science teacher at St. Joseph School, said she enjoyed the science fair -- the first that she has participated in.

"I've been impressed with all the projects, but most importantly at how well our school's projects stack up against them," Brinkmeyer said.

Seventh-grader De Bizzell from Sikeston Middle School said the science fair projects weren't all fun and games.

"It was a lot of hard work. I started in November," said Bizzell, whose project tested the pollution level of St. John's Bayou.

Outside of recognizing the top three winners in each category, special prizes were also awarded from local businesses, military branches and other organizations.

Competition was divided into junior and senior divisions, with the top two overall winners moving on to compete in the International Science Fair planned for May in Cleveland.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128

SCIENCE FAIR WINNERSJUNIOR DIVISION WINNERS

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Excellent: Caleb Schoen, Oak Ridge.

Outstanding: Jason Hine, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.Biochemistry

Excellent: Clay Deane, Sikeston Middle School

Outstanding: Megan Robert, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Superior: Claire Bira, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.Botany

Excellent: Diana Eveland, Caruthersville Middle; Mark Himmelberg, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau; Paige Schumer, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Superior: David Westrich, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Chemistry

Excellent: Kaitlin Vetter and Miranda Schlosser, St. Dennis, Benton; Blake Palmer, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau; Brit G. Taylor, Sikeston Middle School; Tyler Engelhart, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson.

Outstanding: Katie DeLaRosa, Sikeston Middle School; Derek Menz, St. Denis, Benton; Anna Haertling, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson.

Superior: Alyssa Baker, Sikeston Middle School; Ashlee Michele Glastetter, Kelso; Hailey Brown, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Earth and Space Science

Excellent: Jake Sievers, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson; Lauren Smith, Kennett Middle School.

Outstanding: Mamie Williams, Sikeston Middle School; James Thompson, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau; Kelsey Bohnert, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson.

Superior: Christine Stokes, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Engineering

Excellent: Ian Wille, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson.

Outstanding: Stephen McCrate, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau; Caroline Nace, Sikeston Middle School; Kelsey Donze, Valle Catholic, Ste. Genevieve.

Superior: Bridget Jayne Moore, Kennett Middle School.

Environmental Science

Outstanding: Brittney Kelley, Sikeston Middle School; Jordan Voss, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson.

Superior: Alison Beussink, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau; De Bizzell, Sikeston Middle School.

Medicine & Health

Excellent: Stephanie Ross and Jessica Eftink, St. Denis, Benton.

Outstanding: Katie Karnes, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau; Emily Blattel, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Microbiology

Outstanding: Jessie Popp, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau; Aaron Schmidt, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Superior: Kristen McLain, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Physics

Excellent: Russell Hoffman and Matthew Hileman, Central Junior High, Cape Girardeau; Andi Schetter, Sikeston Middle School; Keegan Callow, Scott City Middle School.

Outstanding: Hannah Glueck, Kelso; Richie Bohn, St. Joseph, Scott City; Chris Palisch, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson.

Superior: Matthew Koehler, St. Joseph, Scott City; Matt Kiblinger, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Zoology

Excellent: Ali Herzog, Central Junior High, Cape Girardeau.SENIOR DIVISION WINNERS

Behavioral & Social Sciences and Medicine & Health

Third: Alisha Driver, Sikeston High School.

Second: Lexie Myers and Katie Hemmann, Oak Ridge High School.

First: Chelsea Grigery, Sikeston High School.

Biochemistry and Chemistry

Third: Terri Johnson, Sikeston Junior High School.

Second: Laura Collins, South Pemiscot High School, Steele.Botany

First: Megan Ladd and Jennifer Troutman, Central High School, Cape Girardeau.

Engineering

Second: Daniel Klimmek, Sikeston High School.

First: Tyler Dixon, Sikeston Junior High; Greg Bates, Sikeston High School.

Environmental Science

Third: Molly Brinkmeyer, Sikeston Junior High.

Second: Hannah Robert, Angel Butler, and Jessi Glueck, Scott City High School.

First: Katie Jennings, Sikeston High School.

Mathematics and Computer Science

First: Eric McNeill, Farmington High School.

Microbiology

First: Caitlin Walls, South Pemiscot High School, Steele.

Physics

Third: E. C. Atchison, Sikeston High School.

Second: Michael A. Hasty, Sikeston High School.

First: Harry H. Peterson and Ryan Nickolas Momot, Farmington High School.SPECIAL AWARDS

Aerospace Research award

Jacob Roth, Valle Catholic High School, Ste. Genevieve.

Daniel Klimmek, Sikeston High School.

Ameren UE award

Keegan Callow, Scott City Middle School.

American Chemical Society award

Junior Biochemistry: Claire Bira, St. Vincent de Paul School, Cape Girardeau.

Junior Chemistry: Hailey Brown, St. Vincent de Paul School, Cape Girardeau.

Senior Biochemistry: Laura Collins, South Pemiscot High, Steele.

American Foundation of Vision Awareness award

Katie Radetic and Ashley Callis, Central Junior High, Cape Girardeau.

American Meteorological Society award

Jake Sievers, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson.

ASM International Foundation award

Lauren Smith, Kennett Middle School.

Association for Women Geoscientists award

Mamie Williams, Sikeston Middle School.

Cape Girardeau Area Engineers Club award

Junior: Bridget Jayne Moore, Kennett Middle School.

Senior: Daniel Klimmek, Sikeston High School.

Eastman Kodak Company award

Katie Jennings, Sikeston High School.

Herbert Hoover Young Engineer award

Bridget Jayne Moore, Kennett Middle School.

Intel Excellence in Computer Science award

Eric McNeill, Farmington High School.

Intel Excellence in Environmental Health & Safety award

Katie Jennings, Sikeston High School.

International Society for Optical Engineering award

Ian Wille, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson.

Joy award

Caleb Schoen, Oak Ridge.

Katie Hemmann and Lexie Myers, Oak Ridge.

Russell Hoffman and Matthew Hileman, Central Junior High, Cape Girardeau.

NACE International award

Andrea Schreiner and Jenny Miller, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson.

Southeast Missouri Dental Society award

Junior: Elizabeth Claire Dolan, Sikeston Middle School.

Senior: Jennifer Troutman and Megan Ladd, Central High School, Cape Girardeau.

Louis Unfer Award

Earth Science: Christine Stokes, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Engineering: Bridget Jayne Moore, Kennett Middle School.

United States Air Force award

Daniel Klimmek, Sikeston High School.

Chelsea Grigery, Sikeston High School.

Caitlin Walls, South Pemiscot High, Steele.

De Bizzell, Sikeston Middle School.

United States Army award

Engineering: Tyler Flaker, Sikeston Junior High.

Environmental Science: Katie Jennings, Sikeston High School.

Mathematics and Computer Science: Eric McNeill, Farmington High School.

Life Sciences: Chelsea Grigery, Sikeston High School.

Physical Sciences: E. C. Atchison, Sikeston High School.

Most Outstanding: Chelsea Grigery, Sikeston High School.

U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps award

Jasen Price, Nell Holcomb, Cape Girardeau.

Lauren Smith, Kennett Middle School.

Katie Jennings, Sikeston High School.

Eric McNeill, Farmington High School.

Ryan Nickolas Momot, Farmington High School.

U.S. Metric Association certificate

Daniel Klimmek, Sikeston High School.

U.S. Public Health Service award

Alisha Driver, Sikeston High School.

Water Environment Federation certificate

De Bizzell, Sikeston Middle School.

Yale Science & Engineering Association award

Michael A. Hasty, Sikeston High School.

Best Group Exhibit

Stephanie Ross and Jessica Eftink, St. Denis, Benton.

Best Experiment Study

Claire Bira, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Alyssa Baker, Sikeston Middle School.

David Westrich, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Hailey Brown, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Anna Haertling, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson.

Ashlee Michele Glastetter, Kelso.

Christine Stokes, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Bridget Jayne Moore, Kennett Middle School.

De Bizzell, Sikeston Middle School.

Alison Beussink, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Kristen McLain, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Jessie Popp, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Aaron Schmidt, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Matt Kiblinger, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Matthew Koehler, St. Joseph, Scott City.

Best Model Study

Keegan Callow, Scott City Middle School.

Best Observation Study

Jason Hine, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Overall Junior Life Science award

David Westrich, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Kristen McLain, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Overall Junior Physical Science award

Hailey Brown, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Matt Kiblinger, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Discovery Communications Inc. award

Alyssa Baker, Sikeston Middle School.

David Westrich, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Hailey Brown, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Anna Haertling, St. Paul Lutheran, Jackson.

Ashlee Michele Glastetter, Kelso.

Christine Stokes, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Bridget Jayne Moore, Kennett Middle School.

De Bizzell, Sikeston Middle School.

Alison Beussink, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Kristen McLain, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Aaron Schmidt, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Matt Kiblinger, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

Top Eighth Grade Student

Hailey Brown, St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau.

ISEF Winners

Caitlin Walls, South Pemiscot High, Steele.

Eric McNeill, Farmington High School.