AGRICULTURAL students from Calvary Christian College have beaten 164 schools across Australia to come first in their category in a national plant sciences competition.
Five of the students received individual highly commended awards and one student, Cameron McLeod, was awarded the TASTE scholarship for his efforts and attitude.
The Hermitage Schools Plant Science Competition held by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) celebrated International Year of Pulses this year.
The entry from 20 of Calvary’s year 10 students was judged top in the senior group, which included year 11 and 12 students.
Cameron’s scholarship will enable him to pursue his agricultural interest by undertaking a program of multiple field experiences and excursions at Emerald Agricultural College.
The students worked under the leadership of their teacher Kirsty Hart to conduct research, run experiments and investigate pulses and their importance as a food source and ticket to sustainable agriculture.
The college’s head of middle and senior school Peter Collins said the students success in the competition stood alongside their exceptional record at south-east Queensland regional agricultural shows which had culminated in gaining ribbons in all entered events and being awarded the ‘best at show’ school display at the recent Brisbane Royal Show.
“The success of the DAF plant science competition is not only a credit to the diligence, tenacity and effort of the students, but also a satisfying validation of their enquiry-based learning model,” he said.
Participating students were recognised recently at an award ceremony in Warwick.
Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson said the competition aimed to stimulate interest in science and agriculture in young people and to promote the industry as a rewarding and exciting career choice.
“This year it’s achieved exactly that, with more than 160 schools from across the country registered and more than 245 science and art entries received,” she said.
“Activities for 2016 included a chickpea planting experiment, producing a pulse poster, designing a ‘Game of Pulses’, mapping pulses in the supermarket and creating a spectacular pulse mandala.”
