Science fair award winners
A number of Murray students won awards at the Minnesota State Science Fair April 12.
Here is a list of the students and their awards:
- Annelise Purcell: American Chemical Society, honorable mention; Ecolab Green Award; Wolfram Research Mathematica Software Award; Broadcam Masters Award; and Minnesota Academy of Science Award, silver
- Adam Gaudio: Minnesota Horticultural Society Award
- Betsy Hofer: Seagate Emerging Scientist Award; Wolfram Research Mathematica Software Award; Broadcam Masters Award; Minnesota Academy of Science Award, gold; and Graduate Women in Science Award, eighth grade
- Maggie Fuller: third place overall and Land O’ Lakes Award for Food Innovation
- Sebastian Zarkower: Broadcam Masters Award and Minnesota Academy of Science Award, silver
- Soren Sackreiter, Minnesota Academy of Science Award, honorable mention
- Max Mills, Minnesota Academy of Science Award, honorable mention
- Kevin Torstenson, Minnesota Academy of Science Award, bronze
- Owen Finley, Minnesota Academy of Science Award, bronze
History Day award winners
The following Murray students will compete at the Minnesota State History Day competition April 28:
- Group exhibit: Emily and Maria Brenner; Kaya Solheid and Lyra Sato; Anthony and John Bolanos
- Individual exhibit: Charles Wriedt, Paw Bway Moo, Ellen Chinema, Taylor Fairbanks, Celine Bares
- Group performance: Anna Lovat and Mairin Blank; Ellery Tennison, Clare Marchant and Julia Pletch; Caitlyn Coyle and Maggie Fuller; Logan Becker, Isa Shapland, Lily Anderson and Alex Kamenov; Max Mills and Graham Whitney
- Individual performance: Lydia Westerlund, Kevin Torstenson, Olivia Miller, Kyle Kosiak, Noah Sullivan
- Group documentary: Greta Seppenen and Siri Pattison; Emerson Spencer and Oliver Pletch
- Individual documentary: Soren Sackreiter, Elise Dunn, Olivia Mckee, Hemeti Si-Asar Apet
- Group website: Annika Culver and Alice Wagner-Hamsteadt; Naomi Kempcke and Maddie Schilling; Betty Hebble and Campbell Wencel; Kai Sackreiter and Henry Brandt; McKenna Frechette and Sarah Parker
- Individual website: Adam Gaudio, Joseph Hoang, Charlie Power-Theisen, Alex Le, Gajan Dileepan and Sam Skinner
Tutors needed
Murray Middle School’s comprehensive tutoring/study skills support program, Pilot One-on-One, is seeking volunteer tutors. Now in its 11th year, the program is offered during the school day as an elective class Monday through Friday during the last three class periods of the day: from 11:08 a.m. to 12:08 p.m., 12:12 to 1:04 p.m. and 1:08 to 2 p.m.
Seventh- and 8th-grade students involved in the program benefit from the daily support of a tutor/mentor. Volunteers work with students on developing study skills and on core subjects: English, science, math and social studies. The goal is to have 75 tutors each week who are either members of the community or students from local colleges and universities. All volunteers choose the day and time that works best for them.
Volunteers enjoy Murray because it is an urban middle school with a diverse population, and they have an opportunity to support the same student each week. This lends itself to developing positive relationships with the Murray students. Cindy Thrasher is present in the classroom during the entire time so that both the Murray student and the tutor have a support system in place at the school.
Volunteers participate in a 90-minute training and orientation session. Contact Cindy Thrasher, coordinator, to sign up for a training session or to learn more at 651-293-8740 or cindy.thrasher@spps.org.
