Science students of all ages flocked to Seward County Community College March 5 for the Southwest Kansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair. As part of the statewide science fair system, the event offered students from intermediate, middle- and high school an opportunity to show off their projects, conduct on-site experiment activities, and earn medals to take home. 

Several Liberal students claimed high honors with their projects: 

* Class 3 Senior Division – Zoology:  “Musketeers effect of chia & flaxseed on Mus Musculus” by Noe Sarabia and Kevin Gomez of Liberal High School, earned a gold medal and qualified for state. 

* Class 5 Senior Division – Biochemistry, Medicine and Health: “Are You Protected?” by Marissa Hinz and Diana Najera of Liberal High School, earned a gold medal and qualified for state. 

* Class 6 Senior Division – Chemistry: “The Effect of Dehydration on Fermentation” by Frank Sandoval and Christopher Koons of Liberal High School, earned a silver medal and qualified for state. 

* Class 6 Senior Division – Chemistry: “Compost Chemistry” by Nathan Dowell and Shandon Classen of Liberal High School, earned gold and qualified for state. 

* Class 9 Senior Division – Engineering: “Cricket Cakes” by Gaby Amparan and Sarah Arriaga of Liberal High School, earned a silver medal and qualified for state. 

* Class 10 Senior Division – Environmental/energy: “Savage Salt?” by Marquisha Torres and Karen Vasquez of Liberal High School, earned a gold medal and qualified for state. 

* Class 10 Senior Division – Environmental/energy: “Cracking the Code of Biodiesel” by Valeria Lechuga and Kimberly Mondragon of Liberal High School, earned a silver medal and qualified for state. 

* Class 27 Junior Division — Biochemistry, Medicine and Health: “Weight A Minute” by  Abbie Dowell of Cottonwood Intermediate School, Liberal, earned a gold medal, qualified for state, and was the overall division winner.

* Class 30 Junior Division – Earth/space science: “Hovercraft Joy Ride” by Toby Headrick of Cottonwood Intermediate School, Liberal, earned a bronze medal.