Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Dec 12/05) - There was an air of excitement surrounding the annual science fair at Maani Ulujuk High (MUI) in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Not only were the more than 50 participating students pumped up about their annual sojourn into the world of scientific discovery, but the winners of this year's fair get to travel to Inuglak school in Whale Cove for the Kivalliq Regional Science Fair this coming March.

Brianna Rempel and Paj Kusugak took first place at the Rankin fair for their project on Pyramid Power.

Kyra Nokkitok and Amelia Ipkornerk took second place for their effort, Which Thread is Strongest, while Kayla Bruce and Jamila Gordon took third for Weather of the Past, Present and Future.

James Merritt and Robbie Pilakapsi won the Northern Theme Award for their project, How Alcohol Affects the North.

Second-place winner Nokkitok said she and Ipkornerk learned a lot about sewing material while working on their project.

She also said it was a lot of fun to do.

"I was pretty excited when we found out we had won second place because that means we get a chance to go to Whale Cove for the regional fair and that will be a lot of fun," said Nokkitok.

"We finished second in Rankin, but we might even do better in Whale Cove.

"You take one step at a time, and it would be great if we do well enough in Whale to represent Kivalliq at the Canada-wide science fair in Vancouver next year."