Ellis Middle School seventh-grader Abby Schammel recently placed at this year’s Regional Science Fair in Mankato. She will go on to the Minnesota State Science Fair Science & Engineering Fair on March 30, 31 and April 1.

About 500 sixth- through 12th-graders annual attend the state event each year, all picked from about 2,500 regional science fair participants. More than 75 organizations and businesses give more than 300 awards to students at the fair.