By Carolyn Bogott

American Association of University Women

By her own admission, Catherine Haslag “will fill the ear of anyone who will sit still” with information about the Science Fair Mentoring Project. It all started when, in her roll as chemistry teacher at Riverland College, she was asked to be a judge at the elementary school science fairs. As she observed the participants, she noted that it was very evident that some children had much more adult help in their preparation than other students had. That sparked an idea that volunteer mentors could be recruited to assist students in preparing for the science fair. So in the spring of 2014 she brought her idea to an AAUW branch meeting and asked for others who would help her implement her idea.

If you have ever listened to Catherine’s enthusiasm for an idea, you will know she is impossible to resist. A core group of volunteers met, were infected with her passion and agreed to to help her bring her vision to fruition.  Through her tireless efforts to work with staff at Sumner and Neveln Schools, to recruit mentors, to find donations and grants, to arrange kick off activities, including bus trips to the Riverland science labs for participation in experiments and  “Meet the Scientist” speakers, the first version of the program was in place by October that fall.  In that first year, 98 children from Sumner and Neveln schools were assisted in their participation in the science fair in March, up significantly from the participation in earlier years.

Many lessons have been learned by Catherine and her steering committee about working with third and fourth graders, and each with new lessons each year. Modifications have been made in order to best assist the children, as well as how to make it an enjoyable experience for mentors.

The last three years the program has been implemented at both Neveln and Banfield with 140 students participating.   And a total of 79 of those students went on to the regional science fair. (The project has provided transportation, snacks and lunches for those trips to Mankato for the regionals.)

Six thousand volunteer hours involving 25-35 mentors per year have been involved to accomplish this.  For the past two years, the project also sponsored several Saturday Science Experiences to help families not in the mentoring program prepare students for science fair participation. 

And this fall the project will expand to fourth grade at Southgate using parent volunteers during the school day. Also this fall, in a continued effort to reach out to more families, the Science Fair Mentoring Project will be working with parents enrolled in Adult Basic Education as well as parents involved in activities of the Parenting Resource Center.

Catherine attributes her strong commitment to education and community service to her upbringing in tiny Bonnots Mill, Missouri (population 100), where everyone worked on school, church and community festivals and projects.

In their small Catholic school, students worked in the lunchroom and did the custodial duties.  One of the things that have made Austin become home to Catherine, since she moved here in 2011, is the community spirit.  Individuals and organizations have been very supportive of her efforts.

Her words of wisdom are, “Life is a school in which to learn and grow, sometimes as students and sometimes as teachers to others.  We have an obligation to make communities strong for the next generation. ‘

Thank you, Catherine for your vision and your hard work!

The Science Fair Mentoring Project is always looking for volunteer mentors as well as financial assistance. Contact Catherine at ScienceFairMentorMN@gmail.com.

For more information about the Austin Branch of AAUW, contact Sue Grove  sue.grove@riverland.edu  or Carolyn Bogott  csbogott@charter.net