Science fair enjoys 394 entries from 11 counties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 5, 2009

Contact: Robert Preston, Jr.,
912.260.4276
robert.preston@sgc.edu

Science fair enjoys 394 entries from 11 counties

Over 560 people from 11 counties flocked to South Georgia College on Thursday, Feb. 19 to participate in the South Georgia College Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Science projects are important components of the curriculum in many elementary, middle and high schools. Students choose a particular problem they would like to investigate. Then, using the scientific method, they conduct their experiments and write a report of their research. A few of the topics from the most recent science fair include Fresher Frazier, Balloon Bonanza, Fruity Smells, Stick to It and Zapped Goobers, to name a few.

Judges reviewed the projects using several criteria, including neatness, thoroughness, proper source citation and adherence to the scientific method. Organizers then presented participants with awards after all scores had been tabulated.

In the elementary division, the three top prize winners are as follows:

Haley Cannon, Center Elementary in Ware County (third grade);
Floyd Fullard and Dean Snowden, Williams Heights Elementary in Ware County (fourth grade);
Molly Strickland, Williams Heights Elementary (fifth grade).

In the junior life sciences division,

Marianne Tomberlin, a sixth grader from Appling County Middle School, took first prize.
Alexia Marie McKinnon, a sixth grader from Willacoochee Elementary School, won first prize in the junior physical sciences division.

The grand prize went to another Willacoochee Elementary sixth grader, Shelley Chancey. She received a $1,000 scholarship to South Georgia College for her grand prize-winning project. Grand prize second place went to Kylee Laurel Johnson, a sixth grader at Appling County Middle.

SGC invited 55 schools to the fair; 19 participated from the following counties: Appling, Atkinson, Coffee, Clinch, Echols, Ware, Pierce, Bacon, Jeff Davis, Charlton and Ware. Students from grades 3-8 submitted projects. There were 230 projects in the elementary division (grades 3-5) and 164 in the junior division (grades 6-8) for a total of 394 projects.

Here is a list of the elementary winners, including the honorable mentions (HM):

Third grade: Victoria Highsmith, HM (Waresboro Elementary, Ware County);
Bailee Stephens and Ellie Stark, HM (Memorial Drive Elementary, Ware County;
Emma Wheeler and Avery Howell, HM (Memorial Drive Elementary);
Hanna Simmons, third place (Waresboro Elementary);
Joe Stewart and Acy Paulk, second place (Williams Heights Elementary, Ware County); and
Haley Cannon, first place (Center Elementary, Ware County).
Fourth grade: Matthew Gainey, Amber McIntyre and Rachael Wells, HM (Nahunta Elementary, Brantley County);
Emily Nguyen and Zoe Raulerson; HM (Williams Heights Elementary);
Eli Varnadore, HM (Waresboro Elementary);
Donald Barnett, third place (Waresboro Elementary);
Molly Moye and Kaylee Tanner, second place (Williams Heights Elementary); and
Floyd Fullard and Dean Snowden, first place (Williams Heights Elementary).
Fifth grade: Zach Strickland, HM (Williams Heights Elementary);
Jackson Snow, HM (Williams Heights Elementary);
Alicia Grant, HM (Center Elementary);
Jake Britt, third place (Appling County Elementary, Appling County);
Ashley Smith, second place (Williams Heights Elementary); and
Molly Strickland, first place (Williams Heights Elementary).

Here are the junior life science winners, including state fair qualifiers (SF) and state fair alternates (SFA):

Stone Bates, SFA (Appling County Middle, Appling County);
Sarahy G. Segura, SFA (Appling County Middle);
Jaycee Billington, SFA (Folkston Elementary, Charlton County);
Emmanuel Diaz, SFA (Appling County Middle);
Anna O. Lawrence, SFA (Appling County Middle);
Sydney Graham, SF (Appling County Middle);
Jennifer Vo, SF (Appling County Middle);
Allison Mello, SF (Ware Middle, Ware County);
Morgan E. Meadows, third place (Appling County Middle);
Gabby Mathews, second place (Appling County Middle);
Marianne Tomberlin, first place (Appling County Middle).

Here are the junior physical science winners, including state fair qualifiers (SF) and state fair alternates (SFA):

Synclair Copeland, SFA (Appling County Middle);
Sarah Pine, SFA (Ware Middle);
Campbell O’Steen, SFA (Appling County Middle);
Laura Ammons, SFA (Appling County Middle);
Katelyn Chancey, SFA (Ware Middle);
Ryane Worrell, SF (Coffee Middle, Coffee County);
Wade Whitley, SF (Pearson Elementary, Atkinson County);
Trent Ware and partner, SF (Appling County Middle);
Cliff Thomas, Chemical (Ware Middle);
Saadia Akram, third place (Ware Middle);
Katie Spell, second place (Appling County Middle);
Alexia Marie McKinnon, first place (Willacoochee Elementary, Atkinson County).

“We were very pleased to see so many students turn out for the science fair. Our judges were also impressed with the quality of work the students turned in. There were some excellent projects this year. Hopefully, these students will attend South Georgia College and then move on to careers in the math and science fields,” said Dr. Charles Johnson, Division Chair of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Physical Education.

Grand champion:
The grand prize at the science fair went to Willacoochee Elementary sixth grader Shelley Chancey. She received a $1,000 scholarship to South Georgia College for her grand prize-winning project. Pictured is Cathy Hand, SGC Alumni Specialist, handing Shelley a certificate recognizing her scholarship.

Grand champ 2nd place:
Grand prize second place went to Kylee Laurel Johnson, a sixth grader at Appling County Middle. She is pictured with Dr. Randy Braswell, SGC Director of Admissions, Records and Research.

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South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu) was founded in 1906 and is a two-year institution in the University System of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty.