Students Explore Science at College of Lake County

From the look of the floor in the College of Lake County gymnasium, you might have thought a party had just ended. Colorful popped balloons littered the floor.

But the gymnasium hadn't been the site of a party. Instead, the popped balloons were evidence of failed attempts to stick a wooden rod through a balloon.

That was among many science experiments students experienced April 12, when CLC hosted the MindTrekkers science fair. The exhibits were led by students and faculty from CLC and Michigan Technological University.

Students who attended the science fair were from the following schools: Barrington High School, Beach Park Middle School, Big Hollow Middle School in Ingleside, Grant Community High School, Grayslake Central High School, Lakes Community High School, Libertyville High School, North Shore School District 112, Park West School in Round Lake, Round Lake High School, St. James School in Highwood, Stanton Middle School in Fox Lake, Zion-Benton High School, Zion Central Middle School, Daniel Webster Middle School and Prairie Crossing Charter School. Home-schooled students also attended.

The fair's aim was to inspire careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Grayslake Central freshmen Chelsey Tiffany, Abby Doznr, Sammy Grusling and Val Cichon all enjoyed the fair. Tiffany said she enjoyed seeing ice cream being made using liquid nitrogen. She was also wowed by seeing a red rose turn white when it was dipped in liquid nitrogen.

Grusling enjoyed the popular balloon experiment even though her balloon popped.

"It wasn't that science-y," said Cichon. "It was really fun."