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RANKIN INLET
More than 30 students and teachers from across the region gathered at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI) for the annual Kivalliq Regional Science Fair in Rankin Inlet this past month.

The event saw Scott Sammurtok of Chesterfield Inlet claim top honours, while Chelsea Sammurtok and Tatonya Autut of Rankin Inlet took second overall.

The three will now attend the Canada-wide Science Fair at Charlottetown, P.E.I., from May 12 to 19.

MUI science teacher Katharine O'Connell organized the fair and will accompany the students to P.E.I. with fellow teacher Glen Brocklebank of Chesterfield Inlet.

O'Connell said this year's fair went really well.

She said all the students, teachers and staff members who attended the event had a great time.

"The fair was jam-packed with lots of events," said O'Connell. "We had a bit of a rough start due to weather, but all the communities scheduled to attend made it in.

"There were workshops on rocket building and launching, slime making, and exploration with the Mining Matters program.

"We also had a traditional feast with dice games, a school dance, ajaaja and throatsinging, Amazing Race challenge and an event-closing banquet."

O'Connell said the fair had a great group of volunteers, including students doing practicum hours for the aulajaaqtut program.

She said the only disappointment was that students from Whale Cove weren't able to attend.

"There was turnover at Inuglak School and the teachers were new to science fair, so they needed more time to prepare for their own and weren't ready for regionals.

"But, hopefully, they'll be there next year."

O'Connell said the overall quality of the projects was up this year. She said there's now lots of new, fresh ideas coming from all the communities.

"The students really seem to enjoy the work they're doing and it's great to see all the Northern themes at the fair.

"Hopefully, we'll see some of the same students back again next year."

O'Connell said the host community embraces the science fair every year.

She said the event wouldn't be so successful without that support.

"We had great support this year with gifts for the judges being donated by Ivalu, thank-you cards by Doug McLarty and char for the feast by Arctic Foods.

"The Kivalliq Trade Show was our biggest sponsor.

"Its members donated the money raised from a silent auction at the Kivalliq Trade Show to the Kivalliq Science Educator's Community.

"The money then went towards paying for the food and programming for the science fair, so we're really appreciative of that support."

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