www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, March 28, 2013 | 4 Chemistry teachers loves science fair competitions by Dominik Kurek Oakville Beaver Staff Chemistry teacher Rebecca Kahama of King's Christian Collegiate spends a lot of time with students on science fair projects. Her work has not gone unnoticed. Kahama received a Champion Teacher recognition award at the Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF) awards ceremony at Mohawk College Saturday (March 23). "It was very exciting and interesting," Kahama said. "I know the teachers, the parents and students who nominated me and I'm happy to see that they also recognize the work I do. But, I'm more excited about what my students learn. They learn a lot and I get the feedback, especially when they get out of school and come back and tell me how well they did. That's exciting for me." Kahama has taught at King's Christian six years. Prior to her arrival at the north Oakville private Christian high school, students were already participating in a national virtual science fair competition. Two years after arriving, Kahama King's Christian Collegiate chemistry teacher Rebecca Kahama received a Champion Teacher Award at the got her students involved in both the virtual Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF) last Saturday. science fair and at BASEF . photo courtesy of BASEF Participating in a science fair is not mandatory in high school, but Kahama encourages her students to enter. She already has her students do a science, technology, society and environment project in her chemistry class and those who want to do extra work, can enter those projects in the science fair. "They are able to see students at their level or even above and they learn a lot from that as well," Kahama said. The students put in about three hours of work each day after school for several weeks in November to prepare. The teacher said it's a lot of work, but the youths learn a lot doing their experiments. She often hears from students, once at university, how much they learned doing the projects. Two years ago, one of Kahama's students, John Mikhail, won a silver medal at BASEF . Last year, Mikhail won a gold medal and then earned a silver medal at nationals. "Now, he wants to do medicine. He has a lot of experience already," said Kahama. King's Christian has won the Herb Gildea award as top high school the past two years. BASEF sees many entries from Oakville schools. This year, the following schools participated: Abbey Park High School, Al-Falah Islamic School, Appleby College, King's Christian Collegiate, MacLachlan College, Oakville Christian School, Palermo Public School, Pope John Paul II, Rotherglen School (Oakville), St. Andrew, St. Bernadette, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Michael, St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School, St. Thomas Aquinas and W. H. Morden Public School. Student wins $80K scholarship by Dominik Kurek Oakville Beaver Staff Abbey Park High School graduating student Eisha Ahmed has the first four years of her university taken care of, financially at least. Ahmed, 17, was one of 30 Canadian students to receive the Loran Scholar Award, valued at $80,000 over four years of university. "I'm baffled," Ahmed said, adding she expected to win the $3,000 that went to the 76 finalists for the award, but not the full scholarship. "It is certainly a huge help. My parents are probably glad I won't be begging them for money anymore," she said. "But what I've learned is the Loran Scholarship is so much more than just the monetary award. It comes with mentorship opportunities, it comes with summer programs, it comes with this entire network of very supportive family that I can use throughout my university life and also well beyond that." The Loran Scholarship is administered by the Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation, which was founded in 1989. The organization is funded by donations from companies, foundations and individuals. See Award on p.5 It's not just about saving you money. Wait, it is. Visit InsuranceHotline.com today and experience a fast, free, and easy service that works for your wallet.