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CHESTERFIELD INLET
When three Kivalliq students board a plane for the Canada-wide Science Fair this coming month, it will mark the 10th year in a row at least one student from Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet is among those representing the region at the national event.

Science fair coordinator Katharine O'Connell, left, and head judge Bev Hill present Scott Sammurtok of Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet with the First Place Overall Award at the Kivalliq Regional Science Fair at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin Inlet this past month. - photo courtesy of Jennith Peart

Grade 12 student Scott Sammurtok, 17, of Chester took top prize at the annual Kivalliq Regional Science Fair in Rankin Inlet this past month.

He'll be joined at the national event by fellow students Chelsea Sammurtok and Tatonya Autut of Rankin Inlet and science educators Katharine O'Connell of Rankin and Chester's Glen Brocklebank.

The Canada-wide event is slated to be held in Charlottetown, P.E.I., from May 12 to 19.

Scott's winning project revolved around the versatility of the multi-purpose traditional Inuit qamutiik.

He said he worked on his project for almost three weeks before the start of the regional fair.

"I'm excited about this because it will be my first national fair," said Scott.

"I went to P.E.I. with Northern Youth Abroad this past summer, and I'm looking forward to more seafood.

"I, kind of, got hooked on lobster while I was there.

"After I graduate, I hope to take an electrician's course at the trade school in Rankin."

Scott said it's going to be an amazing experience to see science projects done by students across the country.

He said going from 22 projects at the Kivalliq fair to about 500 science fair boards at the national event will be quite the sight.

"Students from Victor Sammurtok School do well at the regional fair because we all have the motivation, skills and knowledge to do good science projects with the assistance of our teachers.

"The science fair is a big deal at our school, and students really start noticing how well our school does every year once they hit Grade 9.

"That motivated me when I went into Grade 9, and here I am going to Charlottetown.

"There's a lot of school pride in how well Victor Sammurtok students do at the science fair every year."

Brocklebank is returning to Victor Sammurtok School next semester after spending a year as the local adult educator for Nunavut Arctic College.

He accompanied the Chester students to the regional fair this past month.

Brocklebank said the Chester students did very well in Rankin.

He said in addition to Scott taking first overall, Veron Tuktudjuk won the Thomas Kudloo Award for Northern relevancy with a project on Inuit knowledge and sewing animal skins, and Ben Jr. Putulik earned the Best Interview Award.

"We've actually taken first overall in seven of the past 10 Kivalliq fairs, including twice taking the top spot for three years in a row," said Brocklebank.

"There's lot of pride among our students for that record, and it keeps motivating them to take their projects to a higher level the following year."

Brocklebank said success now breeds success and Chester students know what's expected to do well.

He said there are no shortcuts with science projects at Victor Sammurtok School.

"Our students have to really follow the scientific process, try to control the variables, find out what errors could be made and try to minimize them.

"They're also expected to conduct a minimum of 10 to 20 tests before a conclusion is drawn.

"Scott actually did more than 550 individual tests with his project this year.

"He's a great role model of how you'd like all your students to be."

Brocklebank said Victor Sammurtok's success in science is an example of how a small school can be successful when its students decide to really apply themselves.

He said host communities can have eight students participate in the regional fair, but visiting schools can only send four and that makes for stiff competition at the local Victor Sammurtok School Science Fair.

"Obviously, the students who then go to the regional science fair represent the best of our school.

"And, with our track record at the regional fair, the students take being the best from Victor Sammurtok School very seriously.

"We're the smallest school in the region, so, when we do an activity, it's a school-wide activity.

"All our students are completing science projects year after year and, by the time they reach Grade 9 or 10, they've accumulated a lot of experience in the methodology, scientific process, presentation and interview skills necessary for a great project.

"Ultimately, we want our students to do their best, take pride in their work, and know they did a good job."

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