Students want to see Lucy

MOSES LAKE — A group of sixth-grade students want to see an old fossil so much, they are raising money to visit her.

With luck, 77 Chief Moses Middle School students will see Lucy, a fossil believed to be more than three million years old. The fossil is temporarily on display at Pacific Science Center in Seattle.

Students must work fast, as the fossil leaves Pacific Science Center March 8. It will return to Ethiopia, where it was discovered.

“We’re just trying to raise as much money as we can, so we can go see it,” said student Alec Naccarato, 11.

Naccarato noted the fossil’s sex has not been determined yet, so it could be Luke rather than Lucy.

Students are hoping to make the trip Feb. 25.

While they are at the science center, students want to see an IMAX presentation about the Nile, which fits the students’ studies of Egypt.

Teacher Kelly Frederick said the students have gone to their parents’ businesses, trying to collect donations.

One of the students’ stops was the Columbia Basin Herald to see Publisher Harlan Beagley.

Beagley said he contacted the science center and discovered a scholarship is available, which would reduce the price per ticket from $10.50 to $5.50, for 60 students.

Student Mercedez Cloninger, 11, wrote a letter to Pacific Science Center asking the organization to grant the scholarship.

“She’s 3.5 million years old, and she’s like one of the oldest relatives we have,” Cloninger said.

Sixth-grade students all had a chance to sign the letter.

Burger King agreed to  provide lunch to the students, a $450 value.

Servicemaster Cleaning & Restoration, and Ibarra Services also contributed to the cause.

There is still fund-raising to do, said Frederick. The biggest expense is transportation, estimated to cost $1,680.

Beagley said by raising money, students are completing a process of problem solving.

“The more critical thinking the kids can witness or participate in, the stronger adults they are,” he said.

Frederick said a decision will be made Feb. 11 on whether the trip is feasible.

“(Students are) willing to do what it takes to make it work, knowing we have timelines,” she said.

The trip will help bring business to the Lucy exhibit, which Frederick learned is losing money.

Students have various reasons for wanting to visit Pacific Science Center.

“It’d be cool to see an artifact of such age,” said student Paloma McNair, 12.

Hunter Boyd, 11, said he visited Pacific Science Center in the past, but he would like to return to see Lucy.

“I want to go to the Pacific Science Center because I really want to see the remains of Lucy and I also want to check out other exhibits,” said Jacob Tucker, 11.

“I’ve never actually seen like a real fossil of a person before,” said Alysha Overland, 12.

Overland added that she hopes to see some exhibits she missed when she visited Pacific Science Center two years ago.

Phillip Christian, 11, said he wants to see Lucy because the opportunity is once-in-a-lifetime.

“If you wanted to see Lucy (later), you’d have to go all the way to Ethiopia,” Christian said.

Tyler Homesley, 12 said he wants to see Lucy because she is from Africa, a country he would like to visit.

“I really want to see the remains of Lucy, and they say it’s actually pretty fun (at the science center), so I want to see what they got there,” said Freddie Bloxton, 12.

To contribute to the field trip, people can call Chief Moses Middle School at 509-766-2661.