San Andreas, CA…Saturday, March 7, 2020 marked the 35th Annual Calaveras County Science Fair with students participating from across the county. The annual event is held at the Calaveras River Academy/Mountain Oaks gymnasium in San Andreas and is made possible in part by a grant from the Teichert Foundation.

Reese Roeder, a 6th grader from Christian Family Learning Center, won the Grand Prize. Reese’s project, “Can Salt Save” earned her a certificate, a traveling trophy that will be on display at her school, and a place at the 2020 California State Science & Engineering Fair.

“The judges were very impressed with Reese’s project year. Last year Reese won a ‘Shinning Star Award’ because the judges saw such great potential there, this year she won!” said Calaveras County Office of Education Coordinator of Communication and Student Events Debbie Strand.

Judges this selected four projects that qualified to go onto the California Science and Engineering Fair in April. “We are so proud of the students’ entries this year,” said Calaveras County Superintendent of Schools Scott Nanik. “The judges really pour their heart and soul into this process to ensure each student gets properly recognized for their incredible scientific work,” said Nanik.

A public viewing of the projects just before judging allowed the families and community members a chance to explore the displays that filled the gym.

Competitive projects were judged in four categories: Life Science, Behavioral and Cognitive Science, Physical Science and Engineering, and Math and Computer Science. All students received ribbons based on the quality of their project and the state-based judging rubric. The top scorers in each category received a ‘Best in Show’ plaque.

Top projects in each category were:

-Life Science: “Can Salt Save” by Reese Roeder, 6th grade, Christian Family Learning Center

-Behavioral Science: “What Genre of Music Calms Anxiety the Best” by Lillian Fawyer, 8th grade, Mountain Oaks School

-Physical Science and Engineering: “The Great Beyond” by Mazie Self and Hayden Shatswell, 5th graders, Hazel Fischer Elementary

The public votes determined the winner of the Demonstration projects this year. Ryan Jacklich, 6th grader of San Andreas Elementary, won “Best in Demonstration” for his project “4 Cylinder Engine.”

Although the Calaveras County Science Fair accepts projects from students in grades 4-12, only students in grades 6-12 are eligible to compete in the state fair in April. Four students were selected to compete in the state fair this year:

– Reese Roeder, Christian Family Learning Center, 6th grade, “Can Salt Save”

-Cheyanne Gonzales, Mountain Oaks, 8th Grade, “Drinking Too Much Water?”

-Jacob Lindahl, Mountain Oaks, 8th Grade, “Which Toilet Paper is Best for Septic Systems?”

-Joshua Rhinehart, Mountain Oaks, 6th Grade, “Kelvin Thunderstorm”

Winners of the 2020 Calaveras County Science Fair are listed at http://www.ccoe.k12.ca.us/sciencefair

###