Past Student, Teacher & Supporter – Kris Groff
Supporter – Dr. Howard Shapiro
Supporter – Penni Bryant
Supporter – Dr. Harold “Sande” McNabb
Supporter – Margo McNabb
Supporter – Dr. Rodney Rogers
Supporter – Dr. Dean Hoganson
Past Student – Pete Gulbranson
Teacher – Walter Reemtsma
Teacher – Ernest Schiller
Teacher – Larry Schwinger
Student – Christy Taylor
Teacher – David Fagle
Teacher – Bev Iverson
Teacher – Ross Iverson
Student – Karin Wilhelm
Teacher – Ed Rezabek
Teacher – Richard Sorfendon
Teacher – Mary Sievert
Teacher – Merlyn Brown
Supporter – Clay Groff
Teacher – Robert Graves
Student – Daren P. O’Brien
Over 8 years ago the fair received a new Board Chair. The fair was lucky
to find a chair that brought a vision of making the science fair an
even richer educational experience for all the participants. Our
newest Hall-of-Fame member had a driving passion to make the judging
process an encouraging interview in which the exhibitor would learn
how to make their project better and have a stronger sense of science
and their research.
Our recipient spent 30-years of his academic career as a faculty member in Mechanical Engineering and as an administrator at Iowa State University. He joined Wayne State University in August 2005, as Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Programs and General Education. At Iowa State, he co-founded and directed the Center for Building Energy Research and started the Industrial Assessment Center. He served as Assistant Dean in the College of Engineering from January 1997 until he assumed the position of Vice Provost for Undergraduate Programs in August of 1998. He is well known for his work on learning communities, institutional change and reform in higher education. He also has written extensively on thermodynamics, refrigeration and energy efficiency.
Dr. Shapiro was unable to join us for the award ceremony this evening but thanks to some help from technology he has sent a message for us to view. Please direct your attention to the screen.
************Eight years ago our next recipient came to the fair as part of her work in the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Student Programs. In her role with the fair she assisted the fair board and fair director in all the important details that go on behind the scenes. She took care of registering judges and matching judges up with projects in addition to many other numerous roles.
On Friday nights after most had gone home she would be working to take the results from the first day of judging and use them to arrange for the next day. It is accurate to say that this Hall of Fame member was at the hub of the fair. Her hard work, dedication, and positive attitude made the fair even better and her hard work was greatly appreciated by those who worked around her.
She is well deserving of this recognition and the high quality experience that students have at the Fair is in large part due to the work of Penni Bryant.
************Our third Hall of Fame inductee this evening has been involved with science fair in some capacity for the past 34 years. It is only fitting that as we mark the fair’s 50th Anniversary we welcome this recipient into the Hall of Fame. It was very difficult to decide what to put on his plaque as normally Hall of Fame recipients fall into one of three categories – Student, Teacher or Supporter. This recipient fits all three. He has participated as a student, parent, judge, board member, committee chair and currently has students, including his own children exhibiting at this year’s fair.
This recipient has started a science fair program at all three schools where he has taught. He has had 3 International Science & Engineering Fair qualifiers and many winners at local and state wide competitions. This is his 20th year to have students exhibit at the state fair. This year he also started a 9th grade science program that is totally dedicated to science research. He believes that science research is the best way for students to understand how a scientist thinks. In addition to being a two time recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award he has again been nominated this year for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.
He is not listed as one of the Hall of Fame recipients in this year’s program because friends and family asked it to be a surprise as he is not easily nor often surprised. If he has not already figured out who we are referring to maybe this clue about his former science fair project will help him out. Layered Fossils Please help me in welcoming Kris Groff to the stage.
For the last 51 years, our first Hall of Fame Nominee has served as a Professor of Biology at Drake University in Des Moines. In that time, he has assisted the former Hawkeye State Science Fair as a judge when the event was held in Veteran Memorial Auditorium, Merle Hay Mall, Valley West Mall, and the Drake University Field House. In addition, he has assisted with science fair judging at Stuart-Menlo High School and at the South Central Iowa Science & Engineering Fair at Simpson College. His dedication to the field of science has been demonstrated by teaching university classes in biology, microbiology, animal parasitology, history of biology, bioterrorism, and emerging infectious diseases. As a faculty advisor, he assisted 63 Biology Students achieve their Masters Degree.
His wife was a longtime professor of Biology at Drake University. His youngest son is a professor of Biology at Ball State University and his oldest son works for the Department of Finance. Please welcome Dr. Rodney Rogers to the stage.
************If you have participated in the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa for the past 25 years, you have more than likely seen this couple, but you may not know their names. The newest Hall of Fame members, Dr. Harold “Sande” McNabb and Margo McNabb, have been dedicated to the success of students in Iowa for the past 53 years.
Both graduated from the University of Nebraska on June 6, 1949, were married on June 7, 1949, and then traveled to New Haven, Connecticut so Sande could attend Yale University to eventually achieve a Ph.D. in Forest Pathology. While in New Haven, Margo taught school and assisted Sande with a wide variety of Forestry Department activities.
In 1953, they traveled to Ames so Dr. McNabb could accept a joint teaching and research appointment with the Departments of Forestry and Botany at Iowa State College. While at Iowa State, Dr. McNabb worked with over 300 high school and undergraduate interns, taught over 3,000 students, assisted 25 students to achieve their Masters Degree, and assisted 25 students to achieve their Ph.D. Dr. McNabb organized a Shade Tree Short Course at ISU that just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Dr. McNabb was instrumental in working with former ISU President Martin Jiscke to bring this science fair to Hilton Coliseum and served as the Director of this fair from 1997 to 1999. Dr. McNabb has also been in charge of the Scientific Review Committee since 1999.
Dr. McNabb and Margo have been very active in the Ames Community. Dr. McNabb served on the Ames School Board for 9 years, served as a Scoutmaster for 25 years, and along with Margo, served for 12 years coordinating the youth program at the Collegiate Presbyterian Church. Margo served as a Girl Scoutmaster for 6 years, has been politically active in the Story County Democratic Party, and has registered hundreds of people to vote. The couple was awarded the Humanitarian Award from the City of Ames in 2002.
Dr. McNabb’s is quoted as saying, “I couldn’t have asked for a better career.”
Please help me in welcoming Dr. Sande McNabb and Margo McNabb to the stage.
************The student recipient was a very active and successful science fair participant in the early nineties. His projects relating or bridge designs earned him two trips to the International Science and Engineering Fair. After graduating from Stuart-Menlo High School he attended and graduated from Georgia Tech University with a degree in civil engineering. He is currently a civil engineer in an Air Force RED HORSE Squadron – a heavy construction unit. Since 9/11 our recipient tonight has served two tours of duty in the Middle East including 6 months in Bahrain designing and constructing an air force base and most recently served six months in Iraq as a construction engineer. Currently Captain Pete Gulbranson is stationed at Malstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana. Unfortunately, Pete could not join us today. Accepting his Hall of Fame award will be his father, John Gulbranson. Please join me in congratulating Pete.
This 1971 Iowa State University graduate has been teaching for 33 years total between 2 school districts. His first teaching experience was at Harmony High School in Farmington, IA. He taught there for five years specializing in Biology, Advanced Biology, and Chemistry. After five years, he then moved on to Central Lee High School where he taught Botany, Biology, and Advanced Biology for 28 years. He is the sponsor and mentor for the AFS Club and Science Club. He has been involved with Science Club for 20 plus years. His most recent awards are: Selected as Iowa’s Teacher of the year for 2004-2005, Nationally Certified Science Educator and is now mentoring individual teachers to become certified as well, and he was awarded a Presidential Award for teaching science. This person had his first student win a trip to the International Science Fair in 1993 and has had at least one student every year since 1995. Within these years to International, 4 times were with his own daughters. His most memorable thought on education is “students learn science by doing science.” Please welcome 2005 SSTFI Hall of Fame Member and my teacher Ernie Schiller.
************Our next Hall of Fame inductee celebrated his 35th school science fair this year. He was recognized as the Middle School Science Fair teacher of the year in 1976 at Veteran’s Auditorium in Des Moines. His students would say the man is always on the go. His energy and excitement motivates students and energizes all those around him. He has attended the International Science and Engineering Fair numerous times and has even served on the International Science & Engineering Fair Advisory Council. Please welcome a man completely dedicated to science fair and his students 2005 State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa Hall of Fame Member and our middle school science teacher Walt Reemtsma.
************The next State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa Hall of Fame Member started teaching high school science in 1974. He has an undying enthusiasm in science fair and what science fair can do for students. During his teaching career, this person has had 37 students represent Iowa at the International Science and Engineering Fair. In 2001, four of his students were selected to attend the ISEF which is an outstanding accomplishment for anyone. This man takes no credit for the success of his students. His joy is just in seeing the students walk across the stage. His smile and bear hug after a science fair just go to show the pride he has in his students. He participated in science fair as a student in high school and his son was selected to participate in the International Science Fair twice. This man still continues to teach chemistry, physics, and physical science at West Central High School.
The student recipient today was a very successful science fair participant from Stuart-Menlo High School and even was selected to participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair, twice! Christy Taylor was unable to be with us today. She is currently a second grade teacher in California. Please join me in congratulating Christy.
The teacher recipients today are an outstanding group. They have taught in Knoxville, Marshalltown, and Honduras and have been involved in science fair for a combined total of over 65 years. Their dedication to their students and the students’ education in science is an outstanding testament to Iowa’s educational system. Their list of accomplishments is a very long and proud list.
David Fagle said that science fair helped to make him a better teacher because it involved students in basic research. Fagle has former students who are now physicians, research scientists, cytotechnologists, and chemists.
Bev Iverson knows that science fair has made an impact in students’ lives because of the thanks she still receives to this day for providing the science research experience to her former students.
Ross Iverson said that science fair kept him focused on science as a living, breathing, growing organ of life. He and his wife had fun helping students find new and exciting areas of science to study.
Please join me in welcoming David Fagle, Bev Iverson, and Ross Iverson to the stage.
Our first inductee has been involved in science fair for thirty-eight
years. She taught chemistry and AP chemistry at Central High School
in Davenport, Iowa. She served 22 years as the President and
Executive Director of the Quad Cities Science and Engineering Fair.
She has served on numerous science related boards and has received
many awards for teaching. When asked what was the most memorable
moment in her science fair work, she wrote about a student who
excelled in with a Kinetics project in 1967 and is now a well-known
Kinetics professor at the University of Texas. The accomplishments
of her students are too numerous to list. Please welcome 2002 SSTFI
Hall of Fame Member Mary Sievert.
The second inductee this evening is retiring this year as a twenty year veteran of the science teaching profession. He has taught general science, physical science, biology, physics, and chemistry at Clarence-Lowden Schools, North Central Schools in Manly, Bridgewater-Fontanelle Schools, and Orient Mackburg High School. When asked how science fair has made you a better teacher, he responded that the cross-disciplinary projects that include English, math, sociology, industrial arts, and history was a fantastic way to make the students’ projects more well rounded and made his classroom teaching better every year. His highest accomplishment was coaching a student that was selected for the International Science and Engineering Fair. Please welcome 2002 SSTFI Hall of Fame Member Merlyn Brown.
