Calaveras County, CA…The 40th Annual Calaveras County Science Fair, held on March 8, 2025, brought together young scientific minds from across the county, celebrating four decades of student innovation, inquiry, and achievement. Hosted by the Calaveras County Office of Education (CCOE), the milestone event showcased projects from students in 4th through 11th grades, highlighting their curiosity, critical thinking, and dedication to scientific exploration.

Volunteer judges at the 40^th Annual Calaveras County Science Fair

This year’s fair featured students from thirteen schools presenting a total of forty-two projects spanning four categories: Physical Science and Engineering, Life Science, Behavioral and Cognitive Science, and Math and Computer Science. Each participant engaged in an interview with two judges, allowing them to explain and discuss their projects in depth. A team of twelve volunteer judges used a rubric-based evaluation and those with the highest scores determined category winners.

The Grand Prize Winner of the 40th Annual Calaveras County Science Fair was Michelle French, a 7th-grade student from Libertas Academy – CFLC, for her project, “Fluoride Controversy.” French, along with three other exceptional projects, qualified for the California Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF), to be held on April 12-13. The additional state qualifiers include: Aven Dianda, Mountain Oaks, 7th grade, “How Different Spectrums of Light Affect Plant Growth”; Emily McCartney, Mokelumne Hill Elementary, 6th grade, “Do You Like Berries Too?”; Emalie Beauchemin & Ceclia DeGennaro, Mountain Oaks, 6th grade, “Electrolytes”.

The STEAM Advisory Council awarded Albert Michelson Science Fair medals and cash prizes for first, second, and third-place winners in each category. First-place winners received $250, second-place winners received $100, and third-place winners were awarded $50. The Grand Prize winner’s name will be engraved on the Traveling Trophy and the trophy will reside at the winner’s school for the next year.

The continued success of the Calaveras County Science Fair is made possible by the generosity of sponsors, including the Calaveras Community Foundation, Adventist Health Sonora, Dignity Health, Bank of Stockton, Angels-Murphy Rotary, and Middleton’s. Their commitment to education and student achievement ensures opportunities for young scientists to explore, innovate, and succeed.

Established in 1984, the Calaveras County Science Fair has provided a platform for young scientists to showcase their research and innovative projects. As a qualifying event for the California Science & Engineering Fair, it continues to inspire students to explore STEM fields and develop critical thinking skills that will serve them in future academic and professional endeavors.

For a complete list of winners and photos from the event, visit www.ccoe.k12.ca.us/sciencefair.

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40^th Annual Calaveras County
Science Fair Results

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Michelle French, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 7^th grade, “Fluoride Controversy”

WINNERS SELECTED TO GO TO
CALIFORNIA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR, APRIL 12th-13^th
Michelle French, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 7^th grade, “Fluoride Controversy”
Aven Dianda, Mountain Oaks, 7^th grade, “How Different Spectrums of Light Affect Plant Growth”
Emily McCartney, Mokelumne Hill Elementary, 6^th grade, “Do You Like Berries Too?”
Emalie Beauchemin & Ceclia DeGennaro, Mountain Oaks, 6^th grade, “Electrolytes”

BEST PHYSICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROJECT

1^st Place ($250) – Emalie Beauchemin & Ceclia DeGennaro, Mountain Oaks, 6^th grade, “Electrolytes”

2^nd Place ($100) – Greta Christian, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5^th grade, “Rising Bread”

3^rd Place ($50) – Tie (2 Winners)

Morgan Nelson, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5^th grade, “TWHACK! Do I Need a New Ski Helmet?”

Wyatt Schutz, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 5^th grade, “Integrity Project”

BEST LIFE SCIENCE PROJECT

1^st Place ($250) – Michelle French, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 7^th grade, “Fluoride Controversy”

2^nd Place ($100) – Eliot Minkler, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4^th grade, “Does the Mucus Lining Protect the Stomach From All Foods?”

3^rd Place ($50) – Aven Dianda, Mountain Oaks, 7^th grade, “How Different Spectrums of Light Affect Plant Growth”

BEST BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE SCIENCE PROJECT

1^st Place ($250) – Logan Markus, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4^th grade, “Are Yawns Contagious?”

2nd Place ($100) – Kaelyn Blakemore, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4^th grade, “Eye See it First!”

3rd Place ($50) – Jaxon Jarnagin, Avery Middle School, 6^th grade, “The Effect of Video Games on the Body”

BEST MATH AND COMPUTER SCIENCE PROJECT

1^st Place ($250) – Robby Dove, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5^th grade, “Who Can Tell the Difference Between Real and AI Generated Pictures?”

2^nd Place ($100) – Levi Dietrich, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5^th grade, “Spotting AI Images”

3^rd Place ($50) – Noah Laker, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 4^th grade, “Can People Tell the Between Drawings Colored By a Child or AI?”

DEMONSTRATION (NON-COMPETITVE) PROJECT

1^st Place – Maximus Mathews, Sutter Creek Elementary, 6^th grade, “Trebuchet”
2^nd Place – Madison Butterfield, Mountain Oaks, 8^th grade, “Sky High and Alive”

SCIENCE PROJECT RIBBONS BASED ON RUBRIC SCORE (of 100 Total Points Possible )
1^st Place Ribbons
Michelle French, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 7^th grade, “Fluoride Controversy”
Eliot Minkler, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4^th grade, “Does the Mucus Lining Protect the Stomach From All Foods?”
Emalie Beauchemin & Ceclia DeGennaro, Mountain Oaks, 6^th grade, “Electrolytes”
2^nd Place Ribbons
Aven Dianda, Mountain Oaks, 7^th grade, “How Different Spectrums of Light Affect Plant Growth”
Emily McCartney, Mokelumne Hill Elementary, 6^th grade, “Do You Like Berries Too?”
Reese Roeder, Bret Harte High School, 11^th grade, “The Ripple Effect: How Fukushima’s
Treated Water Affects Our Oceans”
Greta Christian, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5^th grade, “Rising Bread”
Wyatt Schutz, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 5^th grade, “Integrity Project”
Morgan Nelson, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5^th grade, “TWHACK! Do I Need a New Ski Helmet?”
Logan Markus, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4^th grade, “Are Yawns Contagious?”
Kaelyn Blakemore, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4^th grade, “Eye See it First!”
Robby Dove, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5^th grade, “Who Can Tell the Difference
Between Real and AI Generated Pictures?”
3^rd Place Ribbons
Emily Basgall, Mark Twain Elementary, 6^th grade, “Does a Dog Have a Sense of Time?”
Maddie Kushnir, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5^th grade, “Lotion Wars”
Lilly Beckman, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5^th grade, “Why Do Chickens Stop Laying in Winter?”
Anderson Christian, Avery Middle School, 6^th grade, “Nerf Bullets”
Jaxon Jarnagin, Avery Middle School, 6^th grade, The Effect of Video Games on the Body”
Levi Dietrich, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5^th grade, “Spotting AI Images”
Honorable Mention Ribbons
Allison McMurray, Mark Twain Elementary, 6^th grade, “Starbucks vs Hygiene”
Galilea Orozco Calvillo & Jenna Chappell, Valley Springs Elementary, 4^th grade, “Are Permanent Markers
Really Permanent?”
Maximus Mathews, Sutter Creek Elementary, 6^th grade, “Trebuchet”
Amelia Whitear, Mark Twain Elementary, 6^th grade, “Drink Smart”
Charlie Adams, Mark Twain Elementary, 6^th grade, “Pop Goes Enamel”
Dean McCormick, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5^th grade, “Different Soil Types and How Well They Hold Water”
Joseph Hurley, Mokelumne Hill Elementary, 6^th grade, “Insulation”
Bryce Henry, Copperopolis Elementary, 5^th grade, “Stretch it Like it’s Hot”
Madison Butterfield, Mountain Oaks, 8^th grade, “Sky High and Alive”
Allen Ybarra & Izzy Green, Copperopolis Elementary, 5^th grade, “How Does Music Affect Animals Moods?”
Anna Broglio & Emily Fraguero, Mark Twain Elementary, 7^th/8^th grade, “The Nose Knows”
Allie Fowler, Avery Middle School, 8^th grade, “Alpha Paw”
Noak Laker, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 4^th grade, “Can People Tell the Difference Between Drawings
Colored by a Child or AI ?”
Participation Ribbons
Liam Wheeler, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4^th grade, “Rock Filter Experiment”
Max Mayo, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5^th grade, “Exploding Elephant Toothpaste”
Nicky Green, Copperopolis Elementary, 5^th grade, “Can Food Light Up Your Room?”
Rollin Broglio, Mark Twain Elementary, 4^th grade, “The Fling Thing – Catapult Distances”
Tharin Rohrbach, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5^th grade, “Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion”
Augustus Nguyen, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4^th grade, “Tsunami Experiment”
Ava Rector, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 4^th grade, Magnetic Power Generator”
Julian Porto, Valley Springs Elementary, 5^th grade, “What is the Best Wing Shape for Flight?”
Kamo Barnett, Mark Twain Elementary, 6^th grade, “Is a Rabbit’s Sense of Smell Better Than a Dogs?”
Savannah Guzzetta, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4^th grade, “Counting Cards”
Joshua Guzzetta, Avery Middle School, 7^th grade, “AI Scripts”