Ruth Long, a 6th grade student at Maȟpíya Lúta, earned 2nd place at this year’s science fair with her project exploring expiration dates of processed foods. Her inspiration came from something many households have in common: “We all have processed foods in our households,” Ruth said. “I wanted to find out more about how long they last.”
This marks the third year in a row Ruth has placed in the top two at the science fair—she earned 1st place in both 2023 and 2024. Her curiosity and dedication continue to shine as she explores scientific questions that connect to everyday life.
“What I enjoy most about science is that I can experience different things,” she said. Her project this year combined observation and analysis, helping her build skills that go beyond the classroom.
As a lifelong Lakȟóta immersion student—she’s been in the program since she was two years old—Ruth also sees a strong connection between science and language. “It helped by creating new words in Lakota for science,” she explained. “It also helped me learn new terms for science.”
For Ruth, learning science in Lakȟóta isn’t just about understanding the subject—it’s about strengthening her ability to speak, write, and think in her language. “I think that learning science in Lakota is important because I learned new terms and I got to write in Lakota more.”
Ruth’s accomplishments are a reflection of both her hard work and the growing strength of Maȟpíya Lúta’s immersion program.