Hundreds of parents and coordinators packed the auditorium of Santaluces High School on Thursday, Dec. 13 for the 2012 Palm Beach Regional Science and Engineering Fair Awards.
The competition was particularly stiff this year, which made the selection of the top 40 projects across all categories extremely difficult. The 40 projects will be entered into Florida’s 58th annual State Science and Engineering Fair, scheduled for March 26-28 in Lakeland.
Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast will be awarding each State Science and Engineering Fair participant a cash award of at least $100.
Scripps Florida will be awarding each student with a medal and gift card to the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, when they showcase their projects there on CELLebrate Science Day on Feb. 2.
Among the 40 SSEF invitees from the Palm Beach Regional Science and Engineering Fair are the following students from western communities schools: Junior Division (grades 6-8) – Austin Consagra of Wellington Landings Middle School; Senior Division (grades 9-12) – Daniel Dufresne, Carle Dugan, Goda Graudinis, Elizabeth Le, Christine Leeds, Alex Naum and Anthony Olive of Palm Beach Central High School; and Ryan Meingasner and Paul Wassel of Seminole Ridge High School.
The winning students were excited to receive their first-place through fourth-place awards. Dozens of the special awards that were given to students sponsored by various community partners who believe in the talent of Palm Beach County students.
“These are the students who will become the researchers who find the cure for cancer, develop new technologies that solve the energy crisis, and make the world a better place in more ways than there is space to name,” Science Program Planner Gregory Goebel said. “We would like to thank all of our sponsors for contributing to our efforts of rewarding students for excellence in science. We welcome future contributions from individuals or groups that would like to encourage students to continue to explore science and develop research techniques.”
Above: Students and parents discuss the projects at the Regional Science and Engineering Fair Awards event.
