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Nicholas Moliterno scores superior at state science fair
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Neighbors | Submitted.Nicholas Moliterno hugged his teacher Dana Vlock after earning a superior rating at the regional science fair at Youngstown State. Vlock helped Nicholas with his project.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Nicholas Moliterno was awarded a plaque for his achievement of earning superior scores in the local, regional and state science fairs.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Nicholas Moliterno posed next to his project during the local science fair earlier this year. He earned a score of superior during the fair.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Nicholas Moliterno worked on his project by building with tresses for the science fair. He earned superior ratings for his project at the local, regional and state science fairs.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Nicholas Moliterno (left) posed with his father Nick during the regional science fair at Youngstown State University. Nicholas earned another superior rating and moved on to compete at state.
By TIM CLEVELAND
Twelve-year-old Nicholas Moliterno completed a hat trick of superior ratings in science fairs with his performance during the state science fair at The Ohio State University on May 10.
Moliterno, who will be entering seventh grade this year at St. Christine’s School, earned a scholarship, a plaque and a letter of personal recognition from Secretary of State, Jon Husted.
Moliterno earned a score of 39 out of 40 at the state science fair, which had approximately 1,200 students from across the state compete. He earned his spot at state by his placings in the local science fair and the Lake-To-River Science Day, which was the regional science fair an March 22 at Youngstown State.
“It felt really good,” Moliterno said. “I also got a scholarship and a letter from the secretary of state of Ohio. I was getting a lot of feedback and stuff.”
His father, Nick, was proud of his son’s efforts.
“We’re very proud of him, especially since he’s only in the sixth grade,” he said.
Moliterno’s project dealt with roller coasters, specifically potential and kinetic energy. Moliterno said potential energy was used when the coasters went up hills and kinetic energy was used when they would go down them.
“The physics behind them, how much a coaster and different carts would effect the track,” he said in explaining his project. “I really like them [roller coasters] and I wanted to learn more about them.”
Moliterno said being on the OSU campus and competing against so many people was a new experience for him.
“It was pretty overwhelming,” he said. “There was so many people; it was just really overwhelming.”
Both Nicholas and his father wanted to give credit to Nicholas’ teacher, Dana Vlock, for her help with the project from the regional science fair until state.