Dr. Hugh Ratigan honored at Science Fair

Hilton's Village Elementary School carries on a tradition of Science Fairs, holding its annual event this year on May 6. Students from grades three to six set up exhibits, displays and experiments throughout the school. Parents, friends and teachers interact with young scientists to learn more about the principles of physics, earth science, chemistry and biology demonstrated by their projects. Begun in 1974, the Science Fair owes a debt to former teacher Dr. Hugh Ratigan, left, who was instrumental in founding the fair. Now a professor at SUNY Brockport, Dr. Ratigan teaches an "Elementary Science Methods" course. He was honored on May 6 by the naming of the Science Fair after him. "We are honoring Dr. Ratigan for enthusiastically advancing science education in our school," Dr. Daniel Talany, right, Principal of the Village Elementary school, said. "I am very appreciative of this unexpected honor," Dr. Ratigan said. "Science is best taught as hands-on, inquiry -- a process skills approach. We want to give kids a chance to do things they want to do and then integrate this learning across the curriculum to other areas." Among the exhibits were: "How Wind is Made" by Cody Schriever; "The Can That Could Walk" about static electricity by Andrew Stiper and Tyler Woodward; "A Trebuchet" by Dylan Hickey.