Katahdin students praised for research

By Rowena Harvey
SAD 25 science teacher
Special to the Pioneer Times
    STACYVILLE — Chemistry II students of Katahdin Middle and High School received high praise when they presented an overview and summary of their year-long research project to the SAD 25’s May school board meeting. Principal Rae M. Bates said: “The students did a wonderful job on their presentation. They demonstrated to everyone in attendance what they are truly capable of. ”  
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PRESENTATION — Students, from left, Ethan Qualey, Mary Jo Robinson and Joshua Guiggey listen as Richard Qualey makes a presentation on findings from research into extremophile microbial life forms that may be discovered on Mount Chase, in northern Penobscot County.
    The students, all 18 years old and graduating June 6, have been working on a year-long research project in collaboration with graduate students from the University of Southern Maine (USM). This collaboration was made possible through a project called Science Corps which is funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation.
    Student Evan McCarthy said: “It was amazing that we had the opportunity to participate in a college level project when we are still high school students. Our presentation was as good as most of the projects and better than many of them.”
    Katahdin’s students chose as their research project a study of extremophile microbial life forms that may be discovered on Mount Chase, in Northern Penobscot County. Many surveys and studies were performed on Mount Chase in the 1970s. Discoveries were made as to the presence of minerals such as copper and zinc.
     “We as a class were required to develop better teamwork skills because this was truly a group effort. It also helped us to develop more refined presentation skills because we had to present our project to both people we knew and those we did not know,” explained student Matthew McAvoy. Matthew Kay, also a student on the project, added that “It was rewarding to be able to show the school board what we were able to accomplish. I hope we made them proud.” And apparently they did. School board member from Patten, Ken Perkins, said: “I am so impressed with the students’ use of technology.”
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AT THE SCHOOL BOARD  — Students, from left, Matthew McAvoy, Jesse Rodgerson, Evan McCarthy, Andrew Hawkins, Marshall Davis and Matthew Kay also were present during the presentation about their research project to members of the SAD 25 school board.
    Another discovery from those tests was the unusually high levels of sulfur found on Mount Chase. Katahdin’s students were researching the possible microbial life forms that may be able to exist in such an extreme sulfur-laden ecosystem. Marshall Davis said of the research: “This project was an incredible experience.  It helped us to expand our knowledge and allowed us exposure to technology that we do not normally have access to.”
    Because of the limited amount of research time available during a school year the students’ results were inconclusive. But, the door is open for future research projects to continue this line of study. In April these students attended a creativity symposium at USM called Thinking Matters. They presented their research to college professors, college students and other high school students.
    Students who participated in the project were: Marshall Davis, Joshua Guiggey, Andrew Hawkins, Matthew Kay, Matthew McAvoy, Evan McCarthy, Ethan Qualey, Richard Qualey, Mary Jo Robinson, and Jesse Rodgerson.     They have had an opportunity to work on a legitimate research project and to work as real scientists throughout this year.
    Many of these students plan on going on to college in a field of science and have been exposed to what is available at the college level when it comes to technology and opportunities.