More than 50 advance to state, national, international events

Rockdale’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) prowess was on display as the county’s brightest young scientific minds presented their STEM research findings at the 2024 Rockdale Regional Scientific and Engineering Fair (RRSEF), held January 27, 2024 at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology. Out of 233 participants (76 boys, 157 girls), 29 high school and 16 middle school students were named Grand Champions and will go on to the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair in downtown Athens, March 30-April 1, 2024.

This year’s RRSEF saw 190 projects submitted in 23 scientific categories – about 50 percent more projects than last year. These projects were evaluated by more than 90 STEM professionals who commented they were impressed by the quality of these projects. A film crew from the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) also was on hand to document three students who won a chance to advance directly to the ISEF in Los Angeles this May. This year’s RRSEF winners are:

GRAND CHAMPIONS, SENIOR DIVISION (high school projects advancing to state fair)

Michelle Nguyen, Jennifer Cruz, Nkima Stephenson, Madeline Burkey, Kayla Andrews, Jaqueline Gomez, Bryson Joyce, Laney Norton, Isabelle Kirkwood, Jeebe Diop, Matthew York, Christian Downer, Jade McPike, Rodina Cummings, Sierra Driver & Miranda Murphy, Zaharia Selman, Huang Ho, Angel Brooks, Nadirah Royer & Jaedon Hanchard, Cody Myers, Arish Jarwar, Sydney Campbell, Aryanna Brown, Yassin Siddiquee, Rebekah Bowers, Faith Buchanan, Anna LaMontagne.

GRAND CHAMPIONS, JUNIOR DIVISION (middle school projects advancing to state fair)

Caitlyn Hildebran, Michael Kinsey, Margaret Hwang & Megan Fachisthers, Zak Yassin, Ava Bailey & Caleb Buchanan & Corey Kidd, Grant Owen, Jada Richardson, Nylah Ductan, Gabrielle Wood, Hailey Corarrubias, Emma MacDonald & Sydney Palmer, Vanessa Ibarra.

SPECIALTY AWARDS

Laura Anschutz Memorial Awards: Jada Richardson.

Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association (AFCEA) Award: Michelle Nguyen.

American Meterological Society: Laney Norton & Rodina Cummings.

American Psychological Association: Sydney Turner & Erin Wilson.

Arizona State University Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives Award: Anna LaMontagne & Madeline Burkey.

ASM Materials Education Foundation: Christian Downer.

Association for Women Geoscientists: Anna LaMontagne.

Doubting Thomas Award: Aaron Geanas.

Intel Excellence in Computer Science Award: Nkima Stephenson.

Mu Alpha Theta Award: Nkima Stephenson.

NASA Earth Systems Science Award: Madeline Burkey.

NOAA Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award: Kayla Andrews.

Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) Recommendation Award (top 11th grade projects): Adrian Robbins, Fallon Barnes, Amber Bowles, Allan Manene, Zaharia Selman, CJ Hardnett, Laney Norton, Mayesha Jefferson, Madline Burkey, Michelle Nguyen, Anna LaMontagne.

Ricoh Sustainable Development Award: Azia Mitchell.

Society for In Vitro Biology: Mayesha Jefferson.

Stockholm Junior Water Prize: Anna LaMontagne, Madeline Burkey, Kayla Andrews.

U.S. Air Force Award: Ava Bailey, Caleb Buchanan, Corey Kidd, Bryson Joyce.

U.S. Metric Association SI Metric Award: Madeline Burkey.

Office of Naval Research U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Award: Michael Kinsey, Margaret Hwang & Megan Fachisthers, Sierra Driver & Miranda Murphy.

Yale Science and Engineering Association, Inc. Award: Anna LaMontagne.

Jill Beach and Mary Mansell Awards (teaching award): Caroline Snell, Dr. JoDi Osborn.

Siemens Competition Semifinalists: Sierra Driver & Miranda Murphy.

Broadcom Masters (top middle school projects): Ava Bailey, Caleb Richardson, Nylah Ductan, Caitlyn Hildebran, Corey Kidd, Jada Richardson.

NCSSS Student Conference Award: Kayla Andrews, Jacqueline Gomez, Angel Brooks (and alternates Laney Norton, Isabelle Kirkwood).

International Sustainable World Energy Engineering, and Environment Project (ISWEEP) Olympiad (in Houston, Tex.): Jennifer Cruz (“The Manipulation of PHA Polymers in the Production of PHA Polymers”).

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) (in Los Angeles, Calif., May 14-19, 2024): Nkima Stephenson (“Data Integration & Analysis of Epigenetics”), Michelle Nguyen (“Topical Antibiotics Consisting of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles”), Madeline Burkey (“The Effect of EDTA Chelation as a Desorption Mechanism”).

Kardinal Award (top scoring project): Nkima Stephenson.

For the full list of winners including 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, go to http://rsef.webs.com.