Angels Camp, CA…The 37th Annual Calaveras County Virtual Science Fair was a success on a number of levels. This was the very first year that students were contending for the cash prize of $250 that were awarded to each of the four category winners. Student’s projects fall into one of these four categories: Physical Science and Engineering, Life Science, Behavioral and Cognitive Science, or Math and Computer Science.

Students from any school in Calaveras county grades 4 th -12 th are eligible to enter the Calaveras County Science Fair, provided by the Calaveras County Office of Education (CCOE). The county level science fair is the qualifying platform for students to be invited to attend the California State and Engineering Fair (CSEF) in April. Each project is judged on a strict rubric that determines which projects are eligible for CSEF. Both the county and state science fairs are virtual this year. Students are provided specific guidelines to follow in order to meet the requirements for each fair.

Calaveras county students who entered this year’s county science fair represented schools from all over the county. Each school district had students participate as well as the local private and charter schools. Judges for the science fair are local scientists and professionals who volunteer their time to this event.

The newly formed STEM Advisory Council was responsible raising the prize money and provided support during the preliminary and judging processes. A virtual presentation of the winner’s projects was provided to the donors of the prize money. The recording is now available for viewing on the CCOE YouTube channel, the CCOE website and Calaveras Public Access TV. The support and community collaboration that the STEM Advisory Council added to this event has proven to be invaluable. The council members are also providing coaching and mentoring for those students who will enter the state fair in April.

CCOE provides county-wide student events to all students in Calaveras county. This is made possible by the generous donations of local community members and businesses. Sponsors of the Calaveras County Science Fair include: Calaveras Community Foundation, CCOE, Bank of Stockton, CV Development, Angels-Murphy Rotary, Middleton’s, Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee and the Murphy’s Historic Hotel & Restaurant. The donors for the new category winner cash prizes were also local community members and business.

The community can view results, category cash prize winners, each student’s video submission and the recorded live presentation by the category winners at www.ccoe.k12.ca.us/sciencefair. For more information about CCOE student events, please reach out to Debbie Strand, Coordinator of Communications and Student Events at dstrand@ccoe.k12.ca.us.

37 th Annual Calaveras County Virtual Science Fair Results

GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Tobias Siegler, Christian Family Learning Center, 7 th grade, “Microorganisms to the Extreme”
WINNERS SELECTED TO GO TO CALIFORNIA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR
Tobias Siegler, Christian Family Learning Center, 7 th grade, “Microorganisms to the Extreme”
Hailey Kalton, Christian Family Learning Center, High school, “Enough to Milk You Sick”
Arabelle Haughton, Mountain Oaks Charter School, 6 th grade, “Soap Science”
Elliot Hungerford & Leighton Quilici, 7 th grade, Avery Middle School, “Space Race”
Bodhi Smith, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5 th grade, “Electromagnetism”
BEST PHYSICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROJECT
Elliot Hungerford & Leighton Quilici, Avery Middle School, 7 th grade, “Space Race”
BEST LIFE SCIENCE PROJECT
Tobias Siegler, Christian Family Learning Center, 7 th grade, “Microorganisms to the Extreme”
BEST BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE SCIENCE PROJECT
Josephine Rael, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5 th grade, “Memory: Color vs. Black and White”
BEST MATH AND COMPUTER SCIENCE PROJECT
Liam Hungerford, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 4 th grade, “Cracking the Code”

Science Project Ribbon Placement (based on rubric scoring)

1st Place Winners
Tobias Siegler, Christian Family Learning Center, 7th grade, “Microorganisms to the Extreme”
2nd Place Winners
Hailey Kalton, Christian Family Learning Center, High school, “Enough to Milk You Sick”
Josephine Rael, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5th grade, “Memory: Color vs. Black and White”
Arabelle Haughton, Mountain Oaks Charter School, 6th grade, “Soap Science”
Aiden Samonek, Mountain Oaks Charter School, 8th grade, “Comparing Antacids”
Liam Hungerford, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 4th grade, “Cracking the Code”
Elliot Hungerford & Leighton Quilici, Avery Middle School, 7th grade, “Space Race”
Bodhi Smith, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5th grade, “Electromagnetism”
Marcus Kelly & Phebee McNurlin, Copperopolis Elementary, 6th grade,
“Cheap vs. Expensive! Which Battery is Better”
3rd Place Winners
Felix Orange, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5th grade, “The Study of Movements from Sound”
Judah Baker, Toyon Middle School, 6th grade, “Is the 5 Second Rule Real?”
Aaliyah Miles, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5th grade, “Which Natural Filter Will Clean Dirty Water the Best?”
Drew Woodhams & Dominic Lopez, Copperopolis Elementary, 6th grade, “Does Fluoride Prevent Tooth Decay?”
Emma Tennis, Mountain Oaks Charter School, 8th grade, “Acid Rain’s Effect on Plants”
Gia Rinauro, Avery Middle School, 6th grade, “Rooting Plant Cuttings”
Honorable Mention Awards
Scarlett Baum, Toyon Middle School, 6th grade, “Horse Behavior vs. Human Behavior”
Jay Lusvardi, Toyon Middle School, 6th grade, “Should You Run/Walk the Mile or Play Sports?”
James Cragun, San Andreas Elementary, 6th grade, “Push Those Amps”
Alicia Newsom, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4th grade, “Circular Venting Race Jug”
Colby Kardas, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4th grade, “PSI of Soccer Ball”

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