Students from tiny school win $140,000 award

SUNBURST (AP) — A group of Sunburst Middle School students is among five winners in a national contest to raise student interest in science, technology, engineering and math.

The students worked to develop a solution to problems caused by an alkali flat south of Sunburst.

When the boggy area dries out, winds can blow salt across the interstate highway, causing reduced visibility and even whiteout conditions that have caused numerous crashes.

The five students learned Tuesday they won $140,000 in technology for their school in the Samsung “Solve For Tomorrow” challenge.

The students have looked at adding fencing, growing salt-tolerant plants in the alkali flats or growing alfalfa in a nearby area to prevent runoff. Group adviser Kim Bloch says the students will continue their research through the spring and possibly into high school.