Two Algona Students Qualify for International Science and Engineering Fair
The Algona Community School District is celebrating a historic milestone as two of its students have been selected to compete at the prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio this May.
Emerson Waltz (far left) and Abby Lampe (center left) have earned their spots at ISEF after outshining over 200 high school projects at the State level — marking the first time in over two decades that two Algona students have advanced to the international competition in the same year.
The announcement was made during a celebratory pep rally recognizing student achievements in the district’s long-standing Science Fair program. The Science Fair has been a proud tradition in Algona Schools for more than 50 years, with students regularly showcasing innovative research and scientific dedication.
“This is such an exciting moment for our school and our community,” said Megan Rasmussen, one of the program’s co-directors. “We are so proud of the hard work and passion Abby and Emerson have shown. To be selected from a pool of more than 170,000 students worldwide is an extraordinary honor.”
The Algona Science Fair program, co-directed by Holly Waltz and Megan Rasmussen, supports both middle and high school students in developing their research projects for competition. Each year, over 400 affiliated science fairs take place across the globe, with only 1,800 students earning finalist status at ISEF — where millions of dollars in awards and scholarships are up for grabs.
Abby and Emerson both had the opportunity to discuss their projects and thoughts on being selected for ISEF.
The accomplishments of Abby Lampe and Emerson Waltz are just part of what has been an exceptional year for Algona’s Science Fair program. Ten high school students participated in the State Science Fair this year, and nine of them received awards or scholarships — a testament to the strength and depth of the district’s science education.
“Our high school students dedicate countless hours outside of school — researching, working with mentors, testing hypotheses, and analyzing their data,” said Waltz. “The caliber of work we see from them often rivals that of college-level research.”
Among the standout participants, Olivia Snider, a top-performing freshman, was selected to attend ISEF as an observer — an honor reserved for a select group of the best freshman projects in the state. Meanwhile, Riley Schechinger earned the opportunity to represent Algona at the Genius Olympiad in Rochester, New York. There, she will compete against more than 1,000 students from 64 different countries in a global celebration of innovation and sustainability.
To mark this historic occasion, Alexa Groff from the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa joined the celebration to present Abby and Emerson with their official ISEF Finalist banners.
