Chesterfield Inlet (May 31/06) - A student from Victor Sammurtok school in Chesterfield Inlet has put her school back to the head of the class for scientific achievement.

Shawna Sammurtok earned a bronze medal at the Canada-wide Science Fair in Chicoutimi, Que., earlier this month for her project, Whose coat is warmer?

The project examined whether store-bought material or caribou, polar bear or sealskin would make the warmest hunting parka.

Sammurtok showed caribou skin to be the warmest.

In addition to the bronze medal, Sammurtok won $300 in cash and a $1,000 entrance scholarship to the University of Western Ontario.

It was the Kivalliq's strongest showing at the fair, with two honourable mentions also being earned.

Germaine Ekwalak and Alex Kaludjak of Inuglak school in Whale Cove earned honourable mentions and $100 for their project, Are skins warmer than boots?

Teal Kreuger of Jonah Amitnaaq school in Baker Lake also earned an honourable mention and $100 for his project on defeating the common Northern problem of a frozen stink pipe.

Chester teacher Glen Brocklebank said it was absolutely fantastic to see a local student do so well at the national level.

He said Sammurtok's success will encourage other students to work harder and shows science in the North is no different than in the south.

"Shawna's medal shows our students are on par with everyone else in Canada," Brocklebank said.

"It's an honour just to be selected to participate at such a prestigious event.

"But to get an honourable mention or, in Shawna's case, win a bronze medal, is just amazing."

Brocklebank is in his fifth year teaching at Victor Sammurtok school.

He said the school's success at the Kivalliq Regional Science Fair rubs off on students from year to year.

Chester students won the regional fair from 2003 to 2005, with Sammurtok being the seventh student from the community to participate in the national fair.

"The science fair is huge at our school and, because of our past success, the students put a lot of pressure on themselves to do well.

"They have to work hard to succeed because it's difficult to win at our school.

"Victor Sammurtok school set the standard for three years in a row at the regional science fair and our students continue to try and top themselves every year."