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Nez visits with students at the Navajo Nation Science Fair

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CHURCH ROCK, N.M. – Vice President Jonathan Nez visited with students at the 2017 Navajo Nation Science Fair Feb. 28, to encourage them to continue to achieve a brighter future for themselves and the Navajo Nation.

In a speech to the students, Nez said, “You can do whatever you want in life. Set a goal and reach it. Never let anyone tell you, you can’t do it. Remember these words of encouragement as you start accomplishing things for yourself, families, community and our Navajo people.”

Nez was greatly impacted by the science fair project by a student from the Eva B. Stokely Elementary School. The student submitted a science fair project titled, “Is bottled water ‘good’ for you?” From her research, she discovered that arrowhead water and tap water registered as an eight on the pH scale.

“Come to find out, other bottled waters had a high concentration of acid. Thank you for empowering me to make better choices for my own health and my family,” Nez said.

Over 200 students from over 21 schools participated in today’s Navajo Nation Science Fair.

This is the seventh science fair that Johanson Phillips, principal education specialist, has helped organize.

“We created this science fair to encourage our children to learn the scientific method and conduct a research project. This process will help prepare them for the next level,” Phillips said. “The projects are becoming better and better each year. They are even running trial experiments.”

The science fair is run by various volunteers that are responsible to judge, cook, register participants and prepare the event area. The winners of this science fair will proceed onto the Arizona State Science Fair, then the Intel International Science Fair.

“The Navajo Nation Science Fair has set the bar high amongst other local public school science fairs by requiring more research based and data driven projects from students,” Julia Mitchell said.

Nez thanked the scientists, volunteers and the Department of Diné Education for organizing this science fair for our youth.

If you are interested in being a judge for the science fair, please contact Julia Mitchell with the Navajo Nation Department of Diné Education. Her email is: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it