NCCA STEM Trio to Compete in International Science & Engineering Fair; Sixty NCSS Students Win Awards at Regional Science Fair
Newton County School System students brought home the hardware from the recent 2024 Griffin RESA Regional Science Fair with 60 students earning first, second, or third place awards! NCCA STEM Institute students, Lynda Coots, Tania Menchaca, and Miguel Ramos, led the way with their first-place project that also earned the highest honor possible for high school students—the Regeneron ISEF Award. As such, the trio will move on to compete and represent Newton County School System and our region at the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May in Los Angeles, California!
According to Dr. Vicki Meeler, NCSS Secondary Science Curriculum & Instructional Specialist, while tens of millions of students participate in science fairs around the globe, only about 1,800 earn the right to compete for nearly $9 million awards at the ISEF.
Although Lynda, Tania, and Miguel put in countless hours working on their project, they noted they were still stunned to win the award.
“I didn’t even hear our names called,” said Tania. “We were still stuck on the fact that we got first place. I was already texting my mom and all of a sudden, I heard everybody from our school get up and start screaming. I realized someone from our school won, and then I see our names and we were like oh my gosh.”
“We were shell shocked,” added Miguel. “I couldn’t believe it!”
Even though the judges were thoroughly impressed with their project, the trio still plans some tweaks and updates before they head to the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles.
“We are going to focus on the aesthetics of our project,” Lynda explained. “We can’t really tweak the data or get more people for our data at this point so we will work on our board and try to improve the esthetics.”
They added they will work on their presentation and hone their interview skills when they compete in the Georgia International Science and Engineering Fair in April, noting that would be great experience in preparation for the international event.
In addition to Lynda, Tania, and Miguel, several other NCSS students earned special awards for their projects. Newton College & Career Academy students Cameron Gustave, Blake Thomas, and Lenaya Turnbull not only earned first place honors, but they also received the American Psychological Association Award for their project researching “The Effect of Environment on Stress Levels.” At the Junior Division level, both Audrey McGovern of Newton County STEAM Academy and Indian Creek Middle School duo, Vincent Garibay and Bentlee Millermon, won not only first place awards but also brought home the Thermo-Fisher Scientific Junior Innovator’s Challenge Award for their projects. This is a top honor as only a few projects are selected per region.
“The Thermo Fisher Scientific Award is the highest honor a middle school student can receive at the regional fair,” said Dr. Vicki Meeler. “RESA is allowed to choose three projects from the region to invite to the national science fair in Washington D.C. and our NCSS students earned two of the three! Audrey, Vincent, and Bentlee will now be in a pool of students from other Georgia RESA locations for the opportunity to compete in the national science fair.”
According to Dr. Meeler, all students who earned first place awards at the regional competition will now represent Newton County Schools in the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair in Athens, Georgia, April 11-13, 2024.
See below for a complete listing of NCSS Awards Winners at the 2024 Griffin RESA Regional Science and Engineering Fair.
HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS:
HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
| NAME |
|
SCHOOL |
|
TITLE |
|
AWARD |
| Lynda Coots, Tania Menchaca, & Miguel Ramos |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
The Effects of Video Games on Stress Levels |
|
First Place and ISEF Award |
| Cameron Gustave, Blake Thomas, & Lenaya Turnbull |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
The Effect of Environment on Stress Levels |
|
First Place and American Psychological Association Award |
| Justin Johnson & Tre'von Davis |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
Feather Falling: The Fall Detecting Shoe |
|
First Place |
| Sabreea Solomon, Racheal Mattox, & Jezie Garmon |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
Microfibers in Fashion |
|
First Place |
| Noah Carter, James Cooper II, and Hayden Hill |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
Music's Muse: A Study of Soundscapes and VR |
|
First Place |
| Kayla Parsons, Joshua Miller, and Hailey Quinn |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
The Effect of Salinity Chang on the Reproduction of Oil-Eating Bacteria |
|
First Place |
| Bobby Stephens III, Sara Canup, & Heaven Devoe |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
Smart Glasses |
|
First Place |
| Sara Anderson, Paris Wheeler, & Kennedy White |
|
Alcovy High |
|
Hand Sanitizer vs. Hand Soap |
|
Second Place |
| Alivia Jones |
|
Newton High |
|
The Lifting Power of Wind Turbines |
|
Second Place |
| Ella Whitehead, Madison Forsythe, & Megan Ellington |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
The Plastic Planet: An Introduction to a Bio-Alternative |
|
Second Place |
| Cameron Potter & Emma Grace Lumpkin |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
Exploring Air Engine Efficiency |
|
Second Place |
| Alexaray Gale, Jhavel Allen, & Shania Stewart |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
Industrial Development/Balance of Freshwater Microorganisms |
|
Third Place |
| Taje' George & Savannah Jones |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
Environmental Gentrifications Impact on Methane Levels in Georgia |
|
Third Place |
| Andrea Schoedel & Gloria Canup |
|
NCCA STEM Institute |
|
Growth Rate of Brassica rapa in Soil and Hydroponics With Molasses |
|
Third Place |
MIDDLE SCHOOL RESULTS
Middle School Results
| NAME |
|
SCHOOL |
|
TITLE |
|
AWARD |
| Audrey McGovern |
|
Newton County STEAM Academy |
|
Does Your Dirt Hold Water? |
|
First Place and Thermo-Fisher Scientific Junior Innovator's Challenge Award |
| Vincent Garibay & Bentlee Millermon |
|
Indian Creek Middle School |
|
Analyzing Locations for Wind Speed at ICMS |
|
First Place and Thermo-Fisher Scientific Junior Innovator's Challenge Award |
| Matthew Camba |
|
Newton County STEAM Academy |
|
Corrosion Showdown |
|
First Place |
| Journey Johnson |
|
Newton County STEAM Academy |
|
Egg-ceptional Stains |
|
First Place |
| Benjamin Parson & Oliver Reid |
|
Newton County STEAM Academy |
|
Types of Substrates on Plastic Consumption of Tenebrio molitor |
|
First Place |
| Anthony Hortman, Willington Tomas & Jesse Mace |
|
Veterans Memorial Middle School |
|
How Does Jupiter's Size Affect Earth |
|
First Place |
| Sabrina Stokes |
|
Newton County STEAM Academy |
|
What Drink Breaks Down Your Teeth the Fastest? |
|
Second Place |
| Christopher Standen |
|
Indian Creek Middle School |
|
Can You Get Sick From Money |
|
Second Place |
| Kennedy Cleaves |
|
Newton County STEAM Academy |
|
Can the Location of a Volcano Affect How Much Magma Erupts? |
|
Second Place |
| Harper Eller |
|
Newton County STEAM Academy |
|
Elephant Toothpaste |
|
Second Place |
| Autumn Vandeweghe |
|
Indian Creek Middle School |
|
The Investigation of Liquid Chlorophyll's Effects on Plants |
|
Third Place |
| Tristen Brown |
|
Clements Middle School |
|
look Out! It's Flying Teabags! |
|
Third Place |
| Sophia Mabie & Kyra Stewart |
|
Newton County STEAM Academy |
|
What is the Most Ideal Technique of Fingerprint Collection? |
|
Third Place |
| Peyton Edwards |
|
Newton County STEAM Academy |
|
What do Birds and Squirrels Prefer to Eat? |
|
Third Place |
| Will Roberts |
|
Indian Creek Middle School |
|
Investigating the Loudness of Guitar Picks |
|
Third Place |
| Carly Rodriguez |
|
Newton County STEAM Academy |
|
Bacteria Growth in School |
|
Third Place |
| Gabrielle Mattis, Janayza Rozzier, & Jaylen Smith |
|
Clements Middle School |
|
Music Affects Mood! |
|
Third Place |
In celebrating the outstanding achievements of our Newton County School System students at the 2024 Griffin RESA Regional Science Fair, Dr. Duke Bradley, III, Superintendent of Newton County School System, expressed his pride in the students' accomplishments. He stated, "I am immensely proud of our students' remarkable success at the regional science fair. Their dedication, innovation, and commitment to excellence highlight the strength of our STEM education programs. Congratulations to Lynda Coots, Tania Menchaca, Miguel Ramos, and all the students who earned awards. Your achievements not only reflect your individual talents but also highlight the quality of education provided by Newton County School System. We look forward to supporting and cheering for our students as they represent us at the upcoming Georgia Science and Engineering Fair and the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair in Los Angeles. Your success inspires us all, and we are confident that you will continue to make us proud on the national and international stages of scientific excellence."