The annual science fair, held in the gymnasium and coordinated by Science Department Chair Dr. Michael Torres, brought together creative minds from across all grade levels. Projects spanned biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and engineering, demonstrating months of careful research, experimentation, and analysis.
Over 250 family members and community guests attended the public viewing evening, exploring student displays and engaging with young scientists about their work. Judges included five university professors, two research scientists from local biotech companies, and three our alumni working in STEM fields.
## Winners
**High School Division (Grades 9-12)**
*First Place:* **Sarah Chen** (Grade 12) - "Biodegradable Plastic Alternatives from Agricultural Waste"
Sarah developed a process for creating biodegradable plastics from corn husks and other agricultural byproducts. Her project demonstrated a 78% decomposition rate within 90 days compared to conventional plastics. Sarah will advance to the State Science Fair and has been invited to present her findings at the Regional Environmental Conference.
*Second Place:* **Marcus Williams** (Grade 11) - "Machine Learning Algorithm for Early Detection of Plant Diseases"
Marcus created a machine learning model that analyzes leaf images to identify plant diseases with 94% accuracy. He trained his algorithm using 2,000 images and tested it on local farm crops. His work has garnered interest from agricultural technology companies.
*Third Place:* **Aisha Mohammed and Jamal Anderson** (Grade 10) - "Solar Panel Efficiency: Impact of Temperature and Angle Optimization"
This duo conducted a year-long study measuring solar panel output under various conditions, developing an optimization model that increased efficiency by 23%. Their project included building a working prototype with adjustable panels.
**Middle School Division (Grades 6-8)**
*First Place:* **Emily Rodriguez** (Grade 8) - "Water Purification Using Natural Filtration Systems"
Emily designed a three-stage water filtration system using sand, gravel, and activated charcoal that removed 97% of contaminants from pond water. She tested her system on five different water sources and documented purification rates. Emily advances to the state competition.
*Second Place:* **David Kim** (Grade 7) - "The Effect of Music on Plant Growth Rates"
David's controlled experiment exposed identical plant groups to different music genres over 12 weeks. Plants exposed to classical music showed 15% more growth than the control group, while heavy metal music resulted in 8% less growth.
*Third Place:* **Isabella Santos** (Grade 6) - "Homemade Battery: Comparing Power Output from Different Fruits and Vegetables"
Isabella tested 15 different fruits and vegetables to determine which produced the most electrical power. Lemons generated the highest voltage at 0.9 volts, followed by potatoes at 0.7 volts.
## Special Awards
- **Best Use of Scientific Method:** Alex Thompson (Grade 9) - "Caffeine's Effect on Memory Retention"
- **Most Creative Approach:** Sophia Park (Grade 8) - "Biodegradable Packaging from Mushroom Mycelium"
- **Environmental Impact Award:** Tyler Martinez (Grade 11) - "Microplastic Detection in Local Waterways"
- **People's Choice Award:** Emma Liu (Grade 7) - "Building Better Bridges: Comparing Architectural Designs"
## Notable Projects
Among the 52 projects, standouts included:
- A study on antibiotic resistance in bacteria conducted by Grade 12 student Kevin O'Connor
- An investigation into the effectiveness of natural mosquito repellents by Grade 9 student Maria Gonzalez
- A robotics project creating an automated plant watering system by Grade 8 student Ryan Foster
- Research on renewable energy storage solutions by Grade 10 student Priya Patel
## Judges and Evaluation
Projects were evaluated by a distinguished panel of nine judges who assessed:
- Application of scientific method and experimental design
- Data collection, analysis, and interpretation
- Creativity and originality of approach
- Real-world applications and potential impact
- Quality of presentation and communication
Judging panel included:
- Dr. Elizabeth Warren, Biology Professor at State University
- Dr. James Liu, Chemical Engineer at BioTech Innovations
- Dr. Patricia Foster, Environmental Scientist
- Mr. Robert Chen, Data Scientist and Hamilton Preparatory School alumnus
- Dr. Maria Rodriguez, Physics Professor at Regional University
## Looking Ahead
Three students - Sarah Chen, Marcus Williams, and Emily Rodriguez - will represent Hamilton Preparatory School at the State Science and Engineering Fair, competing against 200+ projects from schools statewide.
Science Fair Coordinator Dr. Torres noted, "The quality and sophistication of this year's projects exceeded our expectations. Our students tackled pressing real-world problems with innovative approaches and rigorous methodology. Several projects have potential for real-world applications."
The science fair demonstrated the strength of Hamilton Preparatory School's STEM program and students' commitment to exploring the world through systematic investigation. All 52 participants received certificates of participation and are invited to join the Science Olympiad team.