FORT CARSON, Colo. – Are fingerprints hereditary, what type of tape is the strongest, what is life cycle of a fruit, these are just some of the questions asked by students during Russell Middle School’s Science Fair.
Soldiers with 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, volunteered to go to the middle school and judge the science fair projects, Jan. 15.
The science projects, created by children grades 6th through 8th, were assigned in October and had various requirements that had to be met, said Alex Wade, 8th-grade science teacher.
The judging had two parts: the first was based on the project display and the second was an interview with the student.
“I enjoyed being able to get a chance to see the next generation, and see their ideas and how much effort they put into their projects,” said Sgt. 1st Class Craig Butterman, brigade personnel noncommissioned officer in charge, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd STB, 2nd BCT, 4th Infantry Division. “What surprised me the most was the amount of participants and the students' interpersonal skills.”
Both soldiers and students said they felt the benefits of volunteering.
“The kids really appreciate it,” said Wade. “They are seeing all these men and women in uniform, and for some of them, that is what they want to aspire to. It’s nice too, because I feel like this whole community has a good relationship with Fort Carson.”
During the interview portion, some children seemed nervous but were put at ease quickly.
“I got nervous because I didn’t want to mess up, but after a while the Soldiers are really cool so I loosened up,” said Madison Lemley, 12 years old, science fair participant. “It’s cool because I respect the Soldiers and I get to interact with them.”
Soldiers were impressed with the projects that students created.
“These kids are very smart - a lot smarter than I was at their age,” said Spc. Robert Cox, air defense battle management system operator, HHT, 2nd STB. “It’s cool to get to see their experiments.”
Students liked having the soldiers there to judge.
“I feel like they know a lot, so it’s cool for them to come out and judge us instead of teachers,” said Makayla Hendrickson, 13 years old, science fair participant.
Soldiers said they felt a sense of duty to the kids while judging.
“To me, it feels pretty good to be able to go out into the community and show people that this is what we do, and who we are and that we care,” Butterman said. “At the end of the day, these are our future leaders and I want to make sure we are doing the right thing for them.”