RANKIN INLET - A Grade 9 student at Maani Uljuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin Inlet was Nunavut's winner in an international element project run by the University of Waterloo to support the International Year of Chemistry.

Grade 9B student Louisa Putulik, 14, displays her contest-winning effort depicting helium at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Students from around the globe were assigned an element on the periodic table and asked to develop a six-by-six-inch square that included the element's symbol, atomic number and a picture representing it.

Nunavut was assigned helium and the Kivalliq Science Educators Community (KSEC) sponsored a contest for students to participate in.

Louisa Putulik, 14, of Rankin Inlet had her design picked to represent Nunavut.

She earned a prize package of a backpack, hat, calculator and $50 from KSEC for her efforts.

The winning efforts will be on the University of Waterloo's website.

Helium was originally discovered in the sun and gets its name from the Greek word helios, which means the Sun.

Putulik used the sun in her design because it's unique to the element and fit well with her design.

She said she chose to place an Inukshuk in her design because it's a symbol that represents Inuit culture.

"I enjoy science and I was glad when I found out our 9B class was taking part in the project," said Putulik.

"I enjoyed the drawing and putting it all together was fun. Science is one of my favourite subjects and I like it when we're given projects. We did this project in one class and everyone took it seriously and did their best."

Science teacher Katharine O'Connell said she really liked Putulik's concept and the way she applied it to her project.

She said each student incorporated a traditional element into their design to represent Nunavut, and another to represent helium.

"Each student was required to use both of those elements and she (Putulik) did a great job with her design, which is very colourful, bright and cheery," said O'Connell.

"I had about 14 students in my Grade 9B class the day we did the project. I selected the top five or six from the class to send to KSEC and hers was selected as the best."

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