Fifteen middle school students from local Classical Conversations homeschool communities recently took part in the organization's annual science fair. They presented their projects at St. Paul's United Methodist Church on Feb. 15.

The projects were judged by a panel of students and alumni from the science and education departments of Elizabethtown College, and the panel was overseen by Elizabethtown College chemistry professor James MacKay. The judges provided feedback to each student and awarded the prizes.

First prize went to Elizabethtown resident JJ MacKay, whose project, "Acid Versus Penny," examined what happens to pennies in the stomach when they are swallowed. The judges awarded second prize to Micah Weikert of Mechanicsburg, third prize to Malachi Figueroa of Palmyra, and honorable mentions to Isaac Jodon of Dillsburg and Jeremiah Thurston of Harrisburg.

Classical Conversations is a worldwide classical, Christian homeschool organization that seeks to equip parents and students to homeschool their children through Christ-centered and family-friendly curricula. The program is suitable for 4-year-old kindergartners through high-schoolers and includes opportunities to earn college credit. In addition to science fairs, programs for students in seventh through 12th grades include mock trial, debate, science labs and dissections, and Christ-centered discussions. The comprehensive curricula aim to spur students toward independent learning and prepare students to discern wisely, discuss intelligently, and engage effectively with the world around them.

For more information, call 717-712-4759 or email RileyCCEtown@gmail.com.