Your future, our focus
P O W E L L, W y o. - Northwest College is asking area residents to have a heart on Valentine's Day and volunteer to judge at the 2008 Northwest Regional Science Fair scheduled Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 13 and 14, on campus in Powell.
Middle and high school students from across the northern half of Wyoming will compete in the two-day event in Cabre Gym, vying for the opportunity to qualify for state and then national competition.
Dave Barkan, chair of the physical science division at NWC, said he needs more volunteers who are willing to judge both middle school and high school projects. According to Barkan, judges will meet for dinner and a training session Wednesday evening, Feb. 13. Afterward, they review and evaluate projects without the students present. Judges return at 8 a.m. Thursday for a breakfast briefing and then begin interviewing students at 9 a.m. Judging usually wraps up by noon, however, some may be asked to stay until 1 p.m.
Judges work in teams with one or more veteran judges who can help novice volunteers develop and fine tune their approach to evaluating projects.
Volunteers at previous science fairs have observed that the judging training and team format helps non-science oriented individuals catch on fairly quickly. Barkan said many regard it as a personally rewarding and satisfying experience.
Individuals who would like to volunteer or get more information about judging are encouraged to e-mail Dave Barkan , or call (800) 560-4692, ext. 6451 or (307) 754-6451.