Dennis Kohl to enter 2010 Mastodon
Art/Science Fair

Eleven-year-old Dennis Kohl won four honors at last year's Mastodon Art/Science Regional Fair. He'll be entered in the 2010 fair in March but he's still debating which project to use.

The Grandview R2 Middle School sixth grader said, "I'm still looking for the right project. I want it to top my last year's entry; it needs to be bigger and better."

Dennis Kohl

That might not be easy.

He won four awards last year as a 5th grader for his design and construction of a research spectroscope. That's a device that divides a light beam into its component colors to allow scientists to analyze the makeup of different substances.

Dennis did an experiment that analyzed the makeup of incandescent, fluorescent and halogen light beams.

He got his original idea in science class and then adapted his design from a picture he found in a science book.

The final science fair project also included a research paper which explored the history of spectroscopes. He said he got much of this information from research he did on the internet.

The project won first in the earth science division and was picked as the fair's sponsor's choice award and received the executive director's choice award. It also was picked for special display at the St. Louis Science Center.

Dennis' award picture featured on this year's fund-raising brochure

The executive director's award also included a $100 prize.

He had won a 2nd place at the fair as a 4th grader with a light meter project.

So far, he's explored the possibility of making a water purifier or a device that uses harmonic vibrations in pendulums to create drawings. But, he said both seemed to be "dead ends."

(If you'd like to know more about the Mastodon Art/Science Regional Fair, visit www.MastodonFair.org. It has developed into the largest combination art and science fair in the country.)

Dennis said his interest in science started when he was seven. Not surprisingly, his favorite class at school is science. He's developed a special interest in astronomy and got a telescope for Christmas two years ago.

However, his interest in science is far from his only interest.

He plays the alto saxophone in his school's band. And, he and two of his fellow alto saxophone players are planning to form a trio so they can enter into an upcoming musical competition.

He also plays second base for the DeSoto Express select baseball team. One of his regular practice activities is a weekly session in the batting cage at All-Star Batting in nearby Herculaneum, MO.

He's an avid swimmer and reader while also using the computer a lot.

He regularly serves during church services at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Luebbering, MO.

Dennis lives in a rural area near Hillsboro, MO, and has lots of vacant land where he can explore to his heart's content.

And he's found a good companion in his younger sister, 8-year-old Alyssa, who is a 3rd grader. Dennis's father, who is also named Dennis, said Alyssa is a "tomboy" who likes the outdoors.

After his win last year, Dennis has been featured in fund-raising and promotional efforts for this year's Mastodon Fair.

He was one of the kids who helped to entertain potential fair sponsors when fair backers hosted a fund-raiser for potential contributors. Dennis said the $125-a-plate fund-raiser had a "Fred Flintstone" theme and was held in the Crystal City Underground Cave that formerly produced sand for area glass-making factories.

He not only showed off his 2009 award-winning science project but was one of the people to speak about the merits of the Fair.

Then, this year, his picture is featured on the cover of a fund-raising brochure. He is identified as the 2009 Executive Director's Choice Award winner and is quoted as saying, "I entered the fair because I liked to be challenged with hands-on projects and I like science."

Last year's fair had over 3,000 students participating, making it the largest ever. The fair managers pointed out that 100% of the money used in staging the fair needs to be generated through local donations.

Among other public fund-raising efforts last year to help fund future fairs were a Yabba Dabba 30th anniversary gala and a Father's Day event featuring homemade dinosaur models.

A total of 400 donors supported the 2009 fair while 300 volunteers staffed the proceedings.

The 2010 fair will be the group's 31st fair.

This year's "fair week" runs from Tuesday, March 16, through Saturday, March 20. The final day is Family Day, which includes not only displays of this year's winners but also participation events such as a Dinosaur Egg Hunt, for both kids and adults.

The Student Awards ceremony will be held Sunday, May 16.