Science Fair Top Winners Announced

Aiden McGregor, Cody Johnston and Kai McGregor hold the "Rocket Ship of Wonder" Best-of-Show award. Gwydion Marreth, who shares the award, is not pictured.

Updated Sunday, March 27 at 11 a.m.

The 10th Annual Funhouse Science Fair was the place to be on this sunny day, as science exhibits on the theme of “How Does It Work?” filled the Funhouse and extended outdoors.

Grand Prize Winners of the Richie Moore “Rocket Ship of Wonder Award” were Aiden McGregor, Kai McGregor and Gwydion Marreth: their experiment involved building a full-size trebuchet, or medieval machine similar to a catapult, but one that uses weights and pulleys to function rather than the torsion engine of a catapult.

The trebuchet was in full operation outdoors, and enthralled onlookers. Inside, the project’s construction and purpose was explained in a display, showing the boys at work with tools, parts and safety goggles, putting the machine together.

Aiden is in the 4th grade, Kai is in the 6th grade and Gwydion is in the 7th grade at Orcas Island School.

Aidan Anderson, left, and Christopher Ghazel with their Scholarship Award certificates

The scholarship awards, given to high school students were won by 9th grader Aidan Anderson ($350 for his project, “Pocket Warmers”), 9th grader Brigid Ehrmantraut ($650 for  “The Prisoner’s Dilemma”) and $1000 to 11th grader Christopher Ghazel for “Noise Canceling Headphones”).

Seattle performer Dr. Kaboom gave out the awards, and some free tickets to his science-entertainment show at the Orcas Center at 6:30 this evening. He egged the crowd on to call back “Yah!” while amusing them with anecdotes of science safety and German language.

Funhouse Director Pete Moe said, “Today was another great fair with so many high-level projects; and particularly excellent work thanks to involvement of the adult community, including the outdoor demonstrations — the trebuchet, the Roman Wheel [constructed by Brett McFarland and Andrew Youngren) and the Bed of Nails.”