Kara placed 2nd place in a Poetry Competition

Back in 2008 (when she was only nine years old) Kara placed second place in the Massachusetts Science Poetry Competition. The contest is organised by Boston College, it invites students in kindergarten through high school across the state to submit poems of any type about science principles, ideas or activities.

Kara's elementary teacher - Janet Bowen - heard about the competition from the school's headmaster, she then asked the students to write a science poem as an optional, extra credit assignment. Kara and some of her classmates then wrote a poem, and Ms Bowen then submitted the three best to the competition.
The interesting thing about this is that one of the two others from Kara's class took home first place!

Kara's poem, which she named Mercury, tells the story of a trip through the solar system. She said she read some science books and did a little research before she sat down to write. According to the Andover Townsman, Kara's poem weaves in bits of information she found in her research - including lobate scarps, the wrinkles and lines on the planet's surface - and that Mercury's gravity will make her feel 43 pounds lighter.
They also included a short quote about why she picked Mercury.

I picked Mercury because it seemed so interesting. It's closest to the sun, just a planet away. I thought, 'Hmm, I could write a lot about this,'

I've posted Kara's poem in the gallery, together with a picture of Kara and her classmate at the award giving. And thanks to Fred Ley for the story!