Biology Students Splash Into the Wonderful World of Water
By Peyton Kruntorad
Pierce High biology students made a huge splash on the 34th annual Wonderful World of Water competition held on Wednesday, Sept. 20, taking first place in both the tracks of
hands-on activities focusing on water quality and other natural resources related issues.
Pierce High’s biology teacher, Mrs. Deb Koehlmoos took 10 of her biology students to Gilman Park to take part in the 2023 Wonderful World of Water, sponsored by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources district.
At this event, students from Niobrara, Norfolk Catholic, Allen, Elgin, Pope John, Wausa, and Pierce partook in various water-related activities.
There were a total of 10 events where students competed, which were divided into two tracks.
The first track consisted of team members Abigail Cone, Emily Endorf, Sydney Kuper, Samantha Painter, and Isabelle Kuehler. Their activities were called Kerplunk with Nitrates, Slow it Down! Soak It In, Don’t Treat Your Soil Like Dirt, Owl Description, and Aquatic Insects.
The second track consisted of team members Christian Nordby, Carl Vogt, Colter Anderson, Ann Reeker, and Alyssa Kuper. The activities they participated in were Wetlands, Groundwater the Chemistry, Water and the Body, Turtle Description, and Trees.
Nordby shares his thoughts on the experience saying, “I learned a lot and the questions after the stations got us thinking. It was cool when we launched the rockets at the end of the day.”
All schools had one team for each track. On the first track, Pierce’s team came first, and on the second track, Pierce’s team also claimed first.
At the end of the day, each team created a water rocket. Pierce’s second track group received the farthest distance traveled award.
When asked about Pierce’s performance, Anderson states, “I think we did really well. It was overall a really fun time.”
The event was designed to make more high school students aware of various ecological concerns and topics surrounding water in agriculture.
