NATCHEZ — Findings and conclusions of student thought, labor and creativity filled the library last week at Natchez High School and the Natchez Early College Academy.

While at first glance the scene may have seemed like a familiar science fair, nothing bubbled or grew, and few boards displayed numbers.

Instead, the boards were filled with students’ submissions to the NHS and NECA Reading Fair.

“It’s similar to a science fair in the respect that students are creating projects based on findings,” fair coordinator Sandra Peoples said.

But the findings come from different places.

“With a science fair you have to perform an experiment,” Takeria Owens, 14, said, referring to what went on the boards. “Basically, reading a book is like doing the same thing as an experiment.”

Owens was the NECA Reading Fair winner for the individual fiction category. Other categories included individual non-fiction and group fiction.

Every NECA and NHS student was required to make a submission. In the end, teachers picked approximately 60 to be judged by eight community members.

For her project, Owens read the book “Haunting Violet” about a teenager haunted by a murdered ghost. Violet and her friends have to follow clues to ensure the ghost’s twin doesn’t meet the same fate.

To create her board, Owens had to list elements such as the setting, plot summary, the author’s purpose and tone. Owens also had a chance to get creative, draping her board with fake cobwebs and spiders.

“I wanted to make it like Halloween,” Owens said.

Students who did their projects on non-fiction had slightly different requirements. For his project on “Michelle Obama: First Lady of Hope,” NHS non-fiction winner Joshua Harvey, 15, had to list connections he made, follow up questions to the author after reading and predictions before and after reading, just like a scientist.

Harvey said he originally wanted to do a book about President Barack Obama, but he decided against it.

“Since he got all of the shine time, I was going to give Mrs. Obama some shine time,” Harvey said.

Through reading the book, Harvey said he learned more about what the first lady does behind the scenes, such as her travels and balancing her family and job.

By doing a project on what they learn Peoples said students are likely to retain information. And, when retention goes up, Peoples said comprehension does as well.

The next step for Owens and Harvey is the district fair on Nov. 20. Neither student is nervous though.

“I’m excited to see who will win and to see all the different boards people came up with,” Owens said.

Other winners from NECA in the individual fiction category are Ta’Kirrya O’Neal in second place, Kee Jones in third and Jadelia Ealey as an honorable mention. In the non-fiction category, first place went to Brian Jackson and second place went to Jhanasia Dent.

For the group fiction category, first place was Caymen and Imari Gaines; second was Kayla and Paul Hargrave; third was Kirdis Clark, Destiny Lyles and Nakeyia Riggs while Nyia Lewis, Victoria Jackson and Leanna Swaine were given an honorable mention.

NHS winners in the individual fiction category were Candi Ware in first, Jaylon Coleman in second, Donisha Edwards in third and Jacody Green was an honorable mention. For individual non-fiction, Chelsie Roberts placed second and Elbert Lyles placed third.

In the group fiction category, first place went to Dontraneece Gordon, Breiana Nelson and Cedrelle Spencer; second went to Keosha McClain and Whitney Proby; third went to Breanna Ramsey, Kimberly Prater and Anthony Butler while Kerrica Dunmore, LaNeryiah White and Tyrenni Berry received an honorable mention.