NSTA members help with contests
Officers and members of the Tarleton State University
Chapter of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) readily
volunteered their services in three recent interscholastic competitions. The
NSTA is sponsored by Dr. Russell Pfau and Dr. Allan Nelson, professors in the
Department of Biological Sciences.

The first competition NSTA members helped in was the ecology contest at the
Regional Science Olympiad and University Interscholastic League (UIL)
contests. At the Regional Science Olympiad, Tarleton students graded
contestant papers and helped contest directors Dr. Chris Higgins and Dr. Allan
Nelson during the contest. This competition required middle and high school
students to answer questions on ecology and to interpret scientific data from
aquatic and forest ecosystems.

At the regional 2A contest and practice meet, NSTA members helped administer
and grade high school science UIL tests. Members also served as graders and
monitors in assisting contest director Dr. Allan Nelson.

Tarleton students involved in these activities included NSTA officers Vanessa
Pugh, president, from Glen Rose, Texas; Shari Flanigan, vice-president, from
Weatherford, Texas; and Juanita Britton, secretary, from Weatherford. Other
NSTA members involved in the three activities include Casie Davis from
Brownwood, Texas; John Epps from Georgetown, Texas; Courtney Greene from
Early, Texas; Kale Haschke from Junction, Texas; Ben Kunze from Lagovista,
Texas; Taylor Reed from Bedford, Texas; Cassandra Thompson from Big Spring,
Texas; and Amy Wilson from Grapevine, Texas.