Salk Middle School Students Win Big at 2026 Minnesota State Science Excellence Fair
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Students from Salk Pre-Engineering STEM Magnet Middle School recently demonstrated the power of innovative thinking at the Minnesota State Science Excellence Fair (SSEF). After months of rigorous research and successful performances at both school and regional levels, Salk students secured a suite of "Grand Awards" and high-profile specialty industry recognitions.
The SSEF Grand Awards represent the pinnacle of student research in Minnesota. Projects are ranked against the state's most competitive entries, with only the top 30 percent of participants receiving Gold, Silver, or Bronze designations. This year, Salk's presence was felt across multiple disciplines, from Physics to Environmental Science.
Grand Award Winners
- Silver Award: Hunter Smith & Mason Dubovich for their project, A Wheel-y Big Deal.
Silver Winners - Hunter S and Mason D.
- Bronze Award: Sophia Edman (Ice Melt), Caitlin Fox (Applied Fertilizer Concentration), Mariah Jones (Impact of Microplastics on Plants), Fatoumata Marong (Wind Turbine Designs), Cruz Rosstedt & Henry Miller (The Great Decent), and Tatem Stiller (Wing Profiles and Takeoff Distance).
Bronze Winner Sophia E from Salk STEM Middle School
Excellence in STEM Themes
The success at the state level highlights the core pillars of Salk’s Pre-Engineering Magnet curriculum: Innovative Thinking and Problem Solving, Technology Integration, and Evidence-Based Communication. Students began their journey months ago, defending their hypotheses at the Salk school-level fair before advancing through the Regional Science Fair to earn a spot on the state stage.
Industry Recognition
Beyond the ranking awards, industry leaders hand-picked Salk students for their unique potential:
- 3M Young Inventor Recognition ($100): Fatoumata Marong was recognized for demonstrating resourcefulness and innovation in her work on wind turbine electricity generation.
Fatoumata M with her project that earned a 3M Award!
- Woman in Science - Impact Award: Sophia Edman received this honor for her creative project idea and superior communication skills, identifying her as a future leader in the scientific world.
- Thompson Family "Amazing Science Award of Awesomeness": Abigail Boehlert was awarded for outstanding scientific potential for her chemistry project, Cupcake Creations.
"These awards are a testament to our students' ability to tackle complex problems and communicate their findings with clarity and evidence," said Salk administration. "The journey from our school media center to the state competition requires immense dedication, and we are incredibly proud of these young engineers and scientists."
About Salk Middle School Pre-Engineering STEM Magnet Salk Middle School is a magnet program focused on preparing students for the future through a specialized curriculum that emphasizes the engineering design process, technical integration, and a deep-seated culture of inquiry and problem-solving. For more information about attending our magnet school, please contact the school at 763-241-2500 or email caitlin.grandell@isd728.org.