SWU hosts 2019 S.C. Region 1 Science Fair
Approximately 150 elementary, middle, and high school students from six Upstate counties put their scientific problem-solving skills on display at the 2019 South Carolina Region 1 Science Fair March 8 at Southern Wesleyan University in Central.
Southern Wesleyan’s Division of Science partnered with area teachers and parents to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, in keeping with its core value of “contagious generosity.”
The 2019 South Carolina Region 1 Science Fair was presented by Southern Wesleyan University. Additional financial support was provided by Piedmont Natural Gas.
Members of SWU’s Science Club also conducted breakout sessions for participating students, giving demonstrations of various science concepts, which included chemistry, biology and computer science.
Claire Bowen and Riya Zutshi, seventh-graders at R.C. Edwards Middle School, presented research they collaborated on about contaminants found in everyday water sources. For Bowen, who is interested in someday entering the medical field, this was her first presentation at the South Carolina Region 1 Science Fair.
“With just presenting (projects) it helps the judges understand more, It helps to clarify things and explain more,” Bowen said. Zutshi, who would like to study genetics one day, commented that interacting with the judges is important alongside the written portion of the research.
Bill Eister drew inspiration from his father, also an engineer, to pursue engineering. Currently an engineer with Duke Energy and a volunteer judge for the science fair, Eister said, “I think it’s important that they take a look at (STEM), but also the opportunity to prepare a project, to investigate and also make that presentation eye-to-eye to an individual that they don’t know, to answer questions – I think that just expands their repertoire. With respect to the sciences that’s important, but I think it’s more important to get out, meet folks and do something different.”
Planning is already underway for the 2020 South Carolina Region 1 Science Fair to be held on Friday, March 20, 2020 on the Central campus.
South Carolina Region 1 consists of schools in Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, and Pickens counties.
For details about the S.C. Region 1 Science Fair, visit www.swu.edu/sciencefair or contact Staci Johnson, Director at (864) 644-5256 or to learn more about entering student projects, volunteering at the fair, or lending your financial support to the event.
The 2019 South Carolina Region 1 Science Fair Winners are listed below:
3rd & 4th Grade Chemistry Division
1st Place - Zoe Alper/Blakely Branyon/Caroline Rushing, Clemson Elementary School
2nd Place - Sai Vallabh Gurram, Merrywood Elementary School
3rd Place - Ali Collins, Ware Shoals Primary School
Elementary Behavioral & Social Science Division
1st Place - Madison Owens, Northside Elementary School
2nd Place - Brayden McGrew, Ware Shoals Primary School
3rd Place - Carson Pelfrey, Ware Shoals Primary School
Elementary Biological Sciences Division
1st Place - Keslyn Sanford, Keowee Elementary School
2nd Place - Sriman Tikkala, Green Charter School
3rd Place - Ethan Carroll, Clemson Elementary School
Elementary Physics Division
1st Place - J.P. Dolfis, Northside Elementary School
2nd Place - Champ Ransom, Keowee Elementary School
3rd Place - Tyler Johnson, Northside Elementary School
5th Grade Chemistry Division
1st Place - Abbey Crenshaw/Emily Pipes, Northside Elementary School
2nd Place - Grant Duvall/Noah Odom, Northside Elementary School
3rd Place - Cohen Carver, Keowee Elementary School
Team Elementary Physics Division
1st Place - Thomas Evatt/Bracken Nations, Northside Elementary School
2nd Place - Elijah Blakley/Nathan Reeves/David Singapogu, Cornerstone Academy
3rd Place - Adam Clark/Cooper Hallo/Cade McKibben, Clemson Elementary School
Middle School Behavioral & Social Science
1stPlace - Margaret Schmitt, Schmitt Academy
2nd Place - Ava Smith*, Smith Academy-Homeschool
3rdPlace - Jaden Tapper, R.C. Edwards Middle School
6th & 7th Grade Biology & Health Division
1st Place - Dani Prince*, Deerfield Academy
2nd Place - Sarah Campbell Smith*, Smith Homeschool
3rd Place - Kylie Willis, Mount Lebanon Elementary School
Middle School Chemistry Division
1st Place - Ellisen Berry, Berry Academy
2nd Place - Rachel Vervaet*, Classical Conversations Downtown Greenville
3rd Place - Bryce (BJ) Covington, Jr., River Birch Academy
Middle School Physics Division
1st Place - Caleb McCall, Classical Conversations of Greenwood
2nd Place - Malachi Major*, Major Classical Academy
3rd Place - Ian Williams, Williams Homeschool
8th Grade Biology & Health Division
1st Place - Jasmine King*, R.C. Edwards Middle School
2nd Place - Olivia Ballinger/Taylor Hardin, Laurens Middle School
3rd Place - Rishita Tikkala, Sterling School
Team Middle School Physics Division
1st Place - Alexia Johnson/Karlie Krueger/Natalie Maddox, Sanders Middle School
2nd Place - Keyara Jackson/James Blake Quarles, Sanders Middle School
3rd Place - Dawn Clark/Briana Galliher/Izaiah Williams, Sanders Middle School
*Indicates nomination to Broadcom MASTERS National Middle School Science Fair
High School Division
1st Place - Zoe Willis, Scrutinizing Sunscreen: How do different sunscreen active ingredients affect Daphnia magna? Pendleton High School
2nd Place - Shwetha Rajmohan, Shrimp Shells in the Acidified Ocean, J.L. Mann High School
3rd Place - Evan Prince, A study and analysis on the feasibility of using oxygen to kill water-borne bacteria. Deerfield Academy
Junior Water Award (WEASC) – Daniel Eden & Seth Watson, Watson Academy
Senior Water Award (WEASC) – Evan Prince, Deerfield Academy
Lemelson Early Inventory Prize – Dani Prince, Deerfield Academy
Stockhom Junior Water Drop nominee – Zoe Willis, Pendleton High School*
*Water Environmental Association of S.C. awards the Stockholm Junior Water Drop Award, which allows their winner to move onto the State competition in Columbia.
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