On February 213, 2024, students from Okaloosa and Walton counties assembled at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds to present their science fair projects during the 2024 East Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Students then attended the Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, held at Beachside Community Church.

The judging portion of the science fair incorporated interviews for exhibitors with the professional scientists and engineers who served as Judges. The discussion of the project, suggestions, questions, and ideas, plus the opportunity for the Judges to become aware of the student’s interest in professional fields, are some of the important outcomes of the personal interviews. The judging session also exposed students to role models in the disciplines in which they are interested. Students are required to describe their projects in the vocabulary of the discipline and, thereby, grow increasingly articulate with the challenge and practice. Ideally, the student grows academically by encountering ideas from professionals. Special thanks to the Okaloosa Technical College (OTC) for a delicious Judges Dinner.

The Awards Ceremony recognized the students for their hard work and dedication in participating in the Science Fair. The projects represented were the best of the best from schools throughout the region and showcased the creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking skills of the next generation of scientists.

This year’s Science Fair included water testing, bacteria that eat petroleum, exploring biodegradable plastics, preparing for natural disasters, maintaining or improving the health of our local waterways and environment health, bridges, robots, improving sports performance, making homes more energy efficient, using math to solve everyday problems, creating new sign language, studies of aircraft wings propellers, exhaust systems, and so much more.

Not all Category Awards and Special Awards had first-place winners, and first-place winners were not automatically State Finalists. Category placements are based on ranking within the category. First-place winners are required to meet a point threshold to receive that placement. State Finalists are chosen based on the overall scores in the fair and can include more than the first-place award in a category.

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair is the World’s largest pre-college STEM competition and is sponsored by Intel. The students below will be competing with over 1,600 ninth through twelfth graders from around the globe for nearly $9 million in awards, prizes, and scholarships. The Regeneron ISEF 2024 will take place from May 11-17 in Los Angeles, California, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

• Aurora Mendenhall

• Zoe Orange

The State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida is a three-day display of science project exhibits prepared by aspiring scientists and engineers in grades six through twelve. More than 900 Finalists display projects illustrating their research in competition of awards. State nominations are selected based on the student’s overall points and score within the entire fair, not just their category. There may not be a first place from each category and not every first place will be a state nominee. In some categories, there may be multiple state nominees from multiple placements. Florida State Science and Engineering Fair will be held April 2nd - 4th in Lakeland, Florida.

Senior Division

• Olivia Allen       

• Kailey Cotton

• Cameron Estrada

• Zack Hirschinger

• Sasha McCraine

• Aurora Mendenhall

• Zoe Orange

• Owen Parry

• Charlotte Peters

Junior Division

• Ian  Allen 

• Jaylyn Contento 

• Caden Crawley

• Emily Danaher

• Sofia Escobar  

• Christopher Nicoloff  

• Elena Henderson

• Emmalynn Otzenberger

• Moira Reyenga 

• Eva  Stenstad  

• Ellie Veal  (Ehl-ee Veel)

Air Force Association (AFA), Hurlburt Chapter #398

This special award is presented to students who showed Imagination, practicality, creativity, and data collection design for a project that addresses a significant aspect of aviation, aerospace, or STEM.  Second-place winners in each division will be awarded a certificate and $75 and first-place winners in each division will be awarded a certificate and $150.

Senior Division Winners

• First Place: Owen Parry

• Second Place: Cameron Estrada

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Caden Crawley

• Second Place: Desmond Schmid

Air Force Research Lab (AFRL)

The Air Force Research Lab at The US Department of the Air Force is proud to support STEM initiatives and is committed to providing opportunities to develop future leaders in STEM fields. It is pleased to recognize 4 talented students with a sling pack, Power bank, USB thumb drive, car charger, and certificate.

Junior and Senior Division Winners:

• Sofia Escobar

• Ian Allen

• Cameron Estrada

• Aurora Mendenhall

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

The Northwest Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is presenting monetary awards to the two students with the best aerospace or aeronautics related projects in each division.

Senior Division Winners

• First Place: Cameron Estrada

• Second Place: Julia Milz

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Caden Crawley

• Second Place: Christopher Nicolett

Dr. John Fay Awards

Senior Division winners will be awarded certificates and $75 for second place and $150 for first place. Junior Division winners will be awarded certificates and $50 for second place and $100 for first place.

Drs. Alice and Louis Fay Award for Chemistry

This award is given to projects emphasizing the practical application of chemical principles. This award originated with Dr. Alice Fay, the mother of Dr. John Fay, and is awarded today in memory of his parents.

Senior Division Winners

• First Place: Elisabeth Wallace

• Second Place: Sasha McCraine    

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Aimi Frasca

• Second Place: Sofia Escobar

The Hannibal and Tyreeca Davis Award for Mathematics

This award is presented to projects that emphasize mathematical principles themselves, rather than their application to other subjects.  This award is named for the parents of Jane Davis - they were both mathematics professors at West Virginia University.

Senior Division Winner: Aurora Mendenhall

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Eva Stenstad 

• Second Place: Aaron Havard

William and Caroline Herschel Award

This award is presented in honor of William Herschel who was the Royal Astronomer of Great Britain around the year 1800 and Caroline Herschel was his sister and coworker.

Junior Division Winner: Christopher Nicoloff 

Emerald Coast Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Association (AFCEA)

This award is presented to the top STEM projects:

• First Place and $250: Aurora Mendenhall

• Second Place and $200: Elena Henderson 

• Third Place and $150: Owen Parry  

• Fourth Place and $100: Jackson Despard    

Excellence in Science

The Scientific Review Committee is awarding one student from each division for excellence in their approach to experimentation and scientific process. In addition, this student is awarded a $30 Amazon gift card from JPRIMES for Excellence in Science.

Senior Division Winner: Daisy Proffitt

Junior Division Winner: Ainsely Pearson  

Emerald Coast Science Center

The GEMS Award is for a girl who shows interest in Math and Science. It is a program at Emerald Coast Science Center where girls will learn about the work of a renowned female scientist while engaging in hands-on lessons. Maybe one day the winner of this award will be a female scientist they feature in one of their lessons. 

 Winner: Faith-Ann Masters  

The Environmental Advocate Award recognizes a project and person in each division that shows passion for our environment and a project or idea that can help our planet.

Winner: Moira Reyenga

Florida Association of Science Teachers

This award recognizes a student in each division. The winners will receive a certificate and $25.

Winners:

• Hailey Nutt

• Cadeb Veach

Garnier Beach Garden Club

The Garnier Beach Garden Club has selected 4 projects in horticulture science to be awarded $50 each.

Winners:

• Benjamin Nusimow 

• Elle Reiker

• Oliver Diggs

• Katelyn Grimes

Miracle Strip Veterinary Medical Society

This award is presented to the best projects relating to Veterinary Medicine. The winners received $100 and a certificate.

Senior Division Winner: Daisy Proffitt 

Junior Division Winner: Italia Gibson 

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI)

This award encourages students to tackle significant engineering challenges that will be met in the future by the next generation of engineers and scientists. Not all experiments end in success but lead to other innovations and technological advancements. MTSI wants to motivate and empower today's students with the SLUGGO AWARD to become tomorrow's innovators and problem solvers. In each division, the second-place winner will receive a certificate and $75 and the first-place winner will receive a certificate and $100.

Senior Division Winners:

• First Place - Aurora Mendenhall

• Second Place - Zoe Orange

Junior Division Winners:

• First Place - Caden Crawley

• Second Place - Moira Reyenga

Okaloosa County Waste Resources

Recognizes projects focused on recycling, composting, alternative energy, conservation, and related topics.

Senior Division Winner: Zoe Orange

Junior Division Winner: Sofia Escobar

Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), Emerald Coast Post

S.A.M.E.’s award winners received $75 for second place and $175 for first place in each division for their overall presentation, knowledge of the subject, and understanding of the experiment.

Senior Division Winners

• First Place: Zoe Orange

• Second Place: Cameron Estrada

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Caden Crawley

• Second Place: Hailey Nutt

Association for Women Geoscientists

This award was presented to a Senior Division young woman whose project exemplifies high standards of innovativeness and scientific excellence in the geosciences or Earth Sciences. The winner is also awarded an honorary membership in the Association for Women Geoscientists and a $30 Amazon gift card from JPRIMES for Excellence in Science.

Winner - Emily Danaher

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

This award is presented to a project that incorporates the different spheres of the Earth systems and shows cause-effect relationships based on evidence. In addition, this student is awarded a $30 Amazon gift card from JPRIMES for excellence in Science.

Winner: Akshay Prabhu

Lemelson Foundation

The Lemelson Early Inventor Prize is given to a Junior Division finalist who identifies a critical problem that impacts their lives and identifies the various parameters a solution must have to be successful. The student develops a tangible, inventive solution that is novel and positively impacts others. This student is awarded a certificate and $100.

Winner: Eva Stenstad

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The NOAA “Taking the Pulse of the Planet” award emphasizes NOAA’s mission of Science, Service, and Stewardship.  A letter of congratulations and a certificate is presented to this year’s winner. In addition, this student is awarded a $30 Amazon gift card from JPRIMES for excellence in Science.

Winner: Kailey Cotton

Office of Naval Research: US Navy/Marine Corps

The Office of Naval Research is committed to supporting STEM initiatives and programs.

Senior Division Winners:

• Alexis Cole

• Zoe Orange

Junior Division Winners:

• Riley Cole

• Christian Stickler     

Regeneron Biomedical Science Award

This is award is presented to a project in the Senior Division that demonstrates an impressive command of biomedical sciences and Regeneron’s core values. 

Winner: Sasha McCraine

Rioch, USA

The Ricoh Sustainable Development Award is a certificate that recognizes an outstanding project that addresses social and environmental challenges and a meaningful solution for a more sustainable future. In addition, this student is awarded a $30 Amazon gift card from JPRIMES for excellence in Science.

Winner: Alexis Cole

Thermo Fisher JIC

The Thermo Fisher Junior Innovator’s Challenge is the Premier STEM research competition for Middle School Students. The Top 300 Junior Innovators will be selected to receive $125 prize. 30 finalists selected from Top 300 to compete for more than $100,000 in prizes. The finalists’ schools receive $1000.

• Ian Allen

• Caden Crawley

• Sofia Escobar

• Christopher Nicoloff

• Moira Reyenga

• Eva Stenstad

• Ellie Veal

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

This award recognizes an exceptional project that has the potential to help address a salient international development challenge. The recipient is recognized with a certificate and a $30 Amazon gift card from JPRIMES for excellence in Science.

Winner: Moira Reyenga

U.S. Metric Association

Recognizes a project that exclusively, correctly, and accurately uses the metric system. In addition, this student is awarded a $30 Amazon gift card from JPRIMES for excellence in Science.

Winner: Weston Murray

Yale Science and Engineering Association

The award recognizes the most outstanding 10th or 11th grade project. In addition, this student is awarded a $30 Amazon gift card from JPRIMES for excellence in Science.

Winner - Cameron Estrada

Animal Sciences

Senior Division Winner

• Second Place: Tate Lillian, Magnet Innovation Center (MIC) - Does Scent or Sight Affect Bees More When They Are Choosing a Flower?

Junior Division Winner

• Second Place: Italia Gibson, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - The Benefits of Forensic Entomology

Biomedical and Health Sciences

Senior Division Winner

• First Place: Sasha McCraine, Niceville High School (NHS) - The Effect of Heavy Metals on Bos Taurus Blood

Junior Division Winner

• Second Place: Mindy Chislett, Okaloosa STEMM Academy, Fun in the Sun

Cellular/Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Senior Division Winners

• Second Place: Elisabeth Wallace, MIC - Maximizing Biofuel Production from Food Waste via Fermentation

• Third Place: Ryan Neau, Destin High School (DHS) - In Bloom

Chemistry

Senior Division Winners

• First Place: Charlotte Peters, NHS - Analyzing the Qualities of Candles to Help Prepare for a Natural Disaster

• Second Place: Elle   Taylor, DHS - Test the H20

• Third Place: Caitlin Smith, DHS - Cocoa Counts

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Sofia Escobar, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Are Biodegradable Plastics a Viable Replacement?

• Second Place: Jaylyn Contento, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Filtering Water - Featuring: Graphene

• Third Place: Adeleigh Hannigan, Ruckel Middle School (RMS) - What Main Chemical in Sunscreen Blocks UV Light Most?

• Third Place: Ann Marie Montalto, Saint Mary Catholic School (SMCS), Which Water Has the Highest pH Level?

Earth and Environmental Science

Senior Division Winners

• First Place: Olivia Allen, DHS - Gone with the Wind  

• First Place: Kailey Cotton, MIC - Are the Effects of Acidification of Shells Destroying our World's Food Chain?

• Second Place: Reagan Reiker, DHS - What's in the Water?

• Third Place: Caden Veach, DHS - Pods in Heat: The Effects of Water Temperature on Dissolution

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Ellie Veal, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Filtration of Water with Oysters   

• Second Place: Emily Danaher, RMS - Effect of Water Temperature on Ocean Currents

• Third Place: Ella Santana, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Phoenix of Paper: Rising from the Scraps

Engineering

Senior Division Winners

• First Place - Cameron Estrada, MIC - How Different Aspects of Drone Propellers Affect Their Efficiency        

• Second Place: Julia Milz, NHS - How is Aircraft Flight affected by Wing Shape?

• Third Place: Jackson Despard, MIC - What is the Best Wind Resistant House Design?

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Christopher Nicoloff, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Telescope Tracking

• First Place: Caden Crawley, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - The Perfect Propeller: The Effect of Drone Propeller Shape on Weight the Drone Can Carry

• Second Place: Chase Pinto, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - The Future of Bridge Design: HYBRID BRIDGES!

• Third Place: Micah Matherne, RMS - Tectonic Destruction

• Third Place: Weston Murray, RMS - Ground Effect

Environmental Engineering

Senior Division Winners

• First Place: Zoe Orange, Paxton High School - A Natural and Cost-Effective Process of Bioremediation for Contaminated Soils

• Second Place: Zack Hirschinger, MIC - How the Angle and Indentation of a Hydroelectric Turbine Affects the Power-Generated

• Third Place: Alexis Cole, NHS - How Fashion Choices Affect the Environment

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Moira Reyenga, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Biorock

• Second Place: Avery Baxter, Emerald Coast Middle School (ECMS) - Water Wheel Mayhem

• Third Place: Hailey Nutt, Rocky Bayou Christian School (RBCS) - Sandbags Structures

• Third Place: Joyanna Waites, Walton Middle School 

  (WMS) - Chemical Free and Gunk Free

Intelligent Machines, Robotics, and Systems Software

Senior Division Winner

• First Place: Owen Parry, RBCS - Proximal Performance Pes

Junior Division Winner

• First Place: Elena Henderson, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - How Do You Make and Program a Robot to Avoid Obstacles?

Mathematics and Computational Sciences

Senior Division Winner

• First Place: Aurora Mendenhall, NHS -International Math Sign Language (IMSL): Standardizing a "Universal Language" for the Deaf Community

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Eva   Stenstad, RMS - Fighting With Fractals: Identifying Invasive Species Using Geometric Patterns

• Second Place: Anthony Doyle, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Flipping Turns!

• Third Place: Aaron  Havard, Davidson Middle School (DMS) - Ultimate Paradox

Microbiology

Senior Division Winner

• Daisy Proffitt, MIC - Does Natural Disinfectant Kill Bacteria?

Physics and Astronomy

Senior Division Winner

• Second Place: Reeves Brown, South Walton High School - How do Different Temperatures of the Surrounding Air Affect the Rate of Free Fall Experienced by an Object in a Controlled Environment?

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Ian Allen, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Shining Bright: Exploration of Phosphorescent Materials Under Different Conditions

• Second Place: Emmalynn Otzenberger, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Cooler House, Less Material

• Third Place: Alyria  Devera, SMCS - Flight Under Pressure!

• Third Place: Isabella Gill, SMCS - No Little Lights Will Shine!

Plant Sciences

Junior Division Winners

• First Place: Charles Barfield, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Preservatives and Ph Level

• Second Place: Benjamin Nusimow, RMS - Mother Nature vs. Motherboard

• Second Place: Whitney Schlechter, RMS - Rooting Hormone vs. Nothing - Which is Better?

• Third Place: Kaylie Pimentel, Okaloosa STEMM Academy - Light Bulbs Are The New Sun

Special thanks to the following for making the East Panhandle Regional Science Fair successful:

• The Air Force Research Lab provides a grant supporting the Science Fair program in Okaloosa County.

• Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. and the JPRIMES, both sponsored the Judge’s Dinner and are sponsoring Special Awards this evening.

• The National Defense Industry Association has provided sponsorships for State Finalists in memory of long-time Science Fair Judge and NDIA member Tom Hancock.  This generous gift will cover $100 of the cost for each of our State Finalists.

• Okaloosa Schools - Jennifer Cook, Chair

• Davidson MS - Michelle Stockton

• Destin HS - Shannon Madison

• Niceville HS - Scarlett Brock - D&S Chair

• Northwest Florida Ballet - Maria Erdberg

• Paxton School - Brande Stephenson

• Rocky Bayou Christian School - Brian Alldredge

• Ruckel MS - Lisa Nall

• STEMM Academy - Shelly Langshaw

• St. Mary's Catholic School - Daniele Stils

• Walton MS - Angela Reinke

• Walton Schools - Ed Lyons

Heartfelt thanks to all of the volunteers, judges, mentors, teachers, contributors, sponsors, and especially the parents and families of the participants. Thank you also to the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds and Beachside Community Church for hosting the Science Fair Judging and Award events.