{"id":189164,"date":"2025-03-12T10:26:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T17:26:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=189164"},"modified":"2025-03-12T10:26:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T17:26:43","slug":"40th-annual-calaveras-county-science-fair-showcases-student-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=189164","title":{"rendered":"40th Annual Calaveras County Science Fair Showcases Student Innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Volunteer judges at the 40<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> Annual Calaveras County Science Fair<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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This year\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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, \u201cFluoride Controversy.\u201d 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, \u201cHow Different Spectrums of Light Affect Plant Growth\u201d; Emily McCartney, Mokelumne Hill Elementary, 6th grade, \u201cDo You Like Berries Too?\u201d; Emalie Beauchemin & Ceclia DeGennaro, Mountain Oaks, 6th grade, \u201cElectrolytes\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s name will be engraved on the Traveling Trophy and the trophy will reside at the winner\u2019s school for the next year.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s. Their commitment to education and student achievement ensures opportunities for young scientists to explore, innovate, and succeed.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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.
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For a complete list of winners and photos from the event, visit <\/span><\/span>www.ccoe.k12.ca.us\/sciencefair<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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40<\/b><\/span><\/span>th<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Annual Calaveras County
\nScience Fair Results<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

GRAND PRIZE WINNER<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> Michelle French, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 7<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cFluoride Controversy<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

WINNERS SELECTED TO GO TO
\nCALIFORNIA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR, APRIL 12th-13<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span>th<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span>
\n<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span>Michelle French, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 7<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cFluoride Controversy<\/span><\/span>\u201d
\nAven Dianda, Mountain Oaks, 7<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cHow Different Spectrums of Light Affect Plant Growth\u201d
\nEmily McCartney, Mokelumne Hill Elementary, 6<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cDo You Like Berries Too?\u201d
\nEmalie Beauchemin & Ceclia DeGennaro, Mountain Oaks, 6<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cElectrolytes\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

BEST PHYSICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROJECT<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1<\/b><\/span><\/span>st<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($250) \u2013 <\/span><\/span>Emalie Beauchemin & Ceclia DeGennaro, Mountain Oaks, 6<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cElectrolytes\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2<\/b><\/span><\/span>nd<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($100) \u2013 Greta Christian, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cRising Bread\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3<\/b><\/span><\/span>rd<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($50) \u2013 Tie (2 Winners)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> Morgan Nelson, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cTWHACK! Do I Need a New Ski Helmet?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> Wyatt Schutz, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cIntegrity Project\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

BEST LIFE SCIENCE PROJECT<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1<\/b><\/span><\/span>st<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($250) – Michelle French, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 7<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cFluoride Controversy<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2<\/b><\/span><\/span>nd<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($100) \u2013 Eliot Minkler, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cDoes the Mucus Lining Protect the Stomach From All Foods?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3<\/b><\/span><\/span>rd<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($50) \u2013 <\/span><\/span>Aven Dianda, Mountain Oaks, 7<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cHow Different Spectrums of Light Affect Plant Growth\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

BEST BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE SCIENCE PROJECT<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> 1<\/b><\/span><\/span>st<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($250) \u2013 Logan Markus, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cAre Yawns Contagious?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2nd Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($100) \u2013 Kaelyn Blakemore, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cEye See it First!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3rd Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($50) \u2013 Jaxon Jarnagin, Avery Middle School, 6<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cThe Effect of Video Games on the Body\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

BEST MATH AND COMPUTER SCIENCE PROJECT<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1<\/b><\/span><\/span>st<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($250) \u2013 Robby Dove, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cWho Can Tell the Difference Between Real and AI Generated Pictures?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2<\/b><\/span><\/span>nd<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($100) \u2013 Levi Dietrich, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cSpotting AI Images\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3<\/b><\/span><\/span>rd<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> ($50) \u2013 Noah Laker, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 4<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cCan People Tell the Between Drawings Colored By a Child or AI?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

DEMONSTRATION (NON-COMPETITVE) PROJECT<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1<\/b><\/span><\/span>st<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place <\/b><\/span><\/span> – Maximus Mathews, Sutter Creek Elementary, 6<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cTrebuchet\u201d
\n<\/span><\/span>2<\/b><\/span><\/span>nd<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/sup> Place<\/b><\/span><\/span> \u2013 Madison Butterfield, Mountain Oaks, 8<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cSky High and Alive\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

SCIENCE PROJECT RIBBONS BASED ON RUBRIC SCORE (of 100 Total Points Possible<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span> )
\n<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span>1<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>st<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> Place Ribbons<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Michelle French, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 7<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cFluoride Controversy<\/span>\u201d
\n<\/span>Eliot Minkler, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cDoes the Mucus Lining Protect the Stomach From All Foods?\u201d
\n<\/span>Emalie Beauchemin & Ceclia DeGennaro, Mountain Oaks, 6<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cElectrolytes\u201d
\n<\/span>2<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>nd<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> Place Ribbons <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Aven Dianda, Mountain Oaks, 7<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cHow Different Spectrums of Light Affect Plant Growth\u201d
\nEmily McCartney, Mokelumne Hill Elementary, 6<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cDo You Like Berries Too?\u201d
\nReese Roeder, Bret Harte High School, 11<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cThe Ripple Effect: How Fukushima\u2019s
\nTreated Water Affects Our Oceans\u201d
\n<\/span>Greta Christian, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cRising Bread\u201d
\nWyatt Schutz, Libertas Academy – CFLC, 5<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cIntegrity Project\u201d
\nMorgan Nelson, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cTWHACK! Do I Need a New Ski Helmet?\u201d
\nLogan Markus, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cAre Yawns Contagious?\u201d
\nKaelyn Blakemore, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cEye See it First!\u201d
\nRobby Dove, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cWho Can Tell the Difference
\nBetween Real and AI Generated Pictures?\u201d
\n<\/span>3<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>rd<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> Place Ribbons
\n<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Emily Basgall, Mark Twain Elementary, 6<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cDoes a Dog Have a Sense of Time?\u201d
\nMaddie Kushnir, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cLotion Wars\u201d
\nLilly Beckman, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cWhy Do Chickens Stop Laying in Winter?\u201d
\nAnderson Christian, Avery Middle School, 6<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cNerf Bullets\u201d
\nJaxon Jarnagin, Avery Middle School, 6<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, The Effect of Video Games on the Body\u201d
\nLevi Dietrich, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cSpotting AI Images\u201d
\n<\/span>Honorable Mention Ribbons<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Allison McMurray, Mark Twain Elementary, 6<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cStarbucks vs Hygiene\u201d
\nGalilea Orozco Calvillo & Jenna Chappell, Valley Springs Elementary, 4<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cAre Permanent Markers
\nReally Permanent?\u201d
\nMaximus Mathews, Sutter Creek Elementary, 6<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cTrebuchet\u201d
\nAmelia Whitear, Mark Twain Elementary, 6<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cDrink Smart\u201d
\nCharlie Adams, Mark Twain Elementary, 6<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cPop Goes Enamel\u201d
\nDean McCormick, Albert Michelson Elementary, 5<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cDifferent Soil Types and How Well They Hold Water\u201d
\nJoseph Hurley, Mokelumne Hill Elementary, 6<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cInsulation\u201d
\nBryce Henry, Copperopolis Elementary, 5<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cStretch it Like it\u2019s Hot\u201d
\nMadison Butterfield, Mountain Oaks, 8<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cSky High and Alive\u201d
\nAllen Ybarra & Izzy Green, Copperopolis Elementary, 5<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cHow Does Music Affect Animals Moods?\u201d
\nAnna Broglio & Emily Fraguero, Mark Twain Elementary, 7<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup>\/8<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cThe Nose Knows\u201d
\nAllie Fowler, Avery Middle School, 8<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cAlpha Paw\u201d
\nNoak Laker, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 4<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> grade, \u201cCan People Tell the Difference Between Drawings
\nColored by a Child or AI ?\u201d
\n<\/span>Participation Ribbons<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>Liam Wheeler, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> grade, \u201cRock Filter Experiment\u201d
\nMax Mayo, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> grade, \u201cExploding Elephant Toothpaste\u201d
\nNicky Green, Copperopolis Elementary, 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> grade, \u201cCan Food Light Up Your Room?\u201d
\nRollin Broglio, Mark Twain Elementary, 4<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> grade, \u201cThe Fling Thing \u2013 Catapult Distances\u201d
\nTharin Rohrbach, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> grade, \u201cIsaac Newton\u2019s Third Law of Motion\u201d
\nAugustus Nguyen, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> grade, \u201cTsunami Experiment\u201d
\nAva Rector, Hazel Fischer Elementary, 4<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> grade, Magnetic Power Generator\u201d
\nJulian Porto, Valley Springs Elementary, 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> grade, \u201cWhat is the Best Wing Shape for Flight?\u201d
\nKamo Barnett, Mark Twain Elementary, 6<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> grade, \u201cIs a Rabbit\u2019s Sense of Smell Better Than a Dogs?\u201d
\nSavannah Guzzetta, Albert Michelson Elementary, 4<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> grade, \u201cCounting Cards\u201d
\nJoshua Guzzetta, Avery Middle School, 7<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> grade, \u201cAI Scripts\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":189165,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,9,159,22,3,21,6,20,14,37,18,1,146,8,31,42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-189164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-angels-camp","category-arnold","category-avery","category-bear-valley","category-business","category-copperopolis","category-education","category-featured","category-mokelumne-hill","category-mountain-ranch","category-murphys","category-news","category-rail-road-flat","category-san-andreas","category-valley-springs","category-west-point","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fullscreen-capture-3122025-101654-AM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=189164"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":189171,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189164\/revisions\/189171"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/189165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=189164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=189164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=189164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}