New Prague students finish 1-2 at State Science Fair
Turner, Trettel headed to National JSHS

New Prague junior Carl Turner and sophomore Stephen Trettle have each distinguished themselves in the past as having outstanding scientific minds. Next month, they will get to showcase their talents on an International stage.
The pair qualified for the 44th National Junior Science & Humanities Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico April 26-30.
They will each get the opportunity to present at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Indianapolis in May.
"I'm really excited for both trips," Turner said. "I'm not going into the competitions with the intent on winning but using it as a learning experience for the future."
That kind of attitude may suit him just fine.
"I thought I had maybe a shot at fourth or fifth at the State competition," he said. "I really can't explain how I felt when I heard that both Stephen and I had won."
The JSHS will bring together more than 400 selected participants who have successfully qualified through 48 regional symposia held nationwide.
The pair qualified for the JSHS by getting through the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium earlier this month.
During this Symposium, Turner and Trettel presented their papers. More than 40 selected high school students from Minnesota and the Dakotas presented their results of scientific research to students, teachers and judges.
To get through to the JSHS, the pair had to submit their papers to be judged. After advancing past that initial contest, they were selected to present at a regional competition in Mankato. The top papers from the regional competition were then invited to the State JSHS in St. Paul.
At the State JSHS only the top-5 judged research paper presenters were competing and only the top-2 are allowed to present their papers at the National JSHS.
Neither Turner nor Trettel will have to read about the National Symposium because both are going. Trettel took first place at the State JSHS, which was worth a $2,000 scholarship and a chance to present in New Mexico. Not wanting him to travel alone, Turner took second place, which gives him the opportunity to present on the National stage, along with a $1,500 scholarship.
In addition to his top placing, Trettel was also named the Seagate Rising Star at the State Science Fair, which is awarded to the top project of the High School group and to the person with the top science "persona". Along with the award, he won a 300G hard drive as well as a $2,000 cash prize.
The pair will be presenting their projects at the same time during the National JSHS. From 2:20 – 2:38 p.m., Trettel will be presenting "Propellantless Propulsion: The Role of Drift Transport in Asymmetrical Capacitor Thrust Production" while Turner will be showcasing "Designing An Optical Sensor to Easily Decipher the Relative Longevity of a High Pressure Sodium Light Through Spectral Analysis".
The 18 minute presentation each has is broken up into a 12-minute explanation and six minutes of questions from the PHD judges.
"I'm really looking forward to the questions because that is how I can learn a lot more about what I am doing," Turner said. "The judges all have at least 10 years experience in the field so I'm expecting the questions to be pretty difficult."