High School Students Across Arkansas Compete in Virtual Science and Engineering Fair

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Fayetteville High School student Alice Cai.

Students across the state were disappointed in April when the Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair at the University of Arkansas was canceled due to COVID-19.

Shawn Bell, director of the U of A Center for Math and Science Education, worked with his team to hold a virtual fair instead.

"Our local students worked really hard on their projects and I didn't want that work to go unrewarded," he said.

Instead of attending a big fair together at the Arkansas Union, students uploaded pictures, a PowerPoint, and a video of their presentations.

"Our great faculty, staff and grad students were happy to judge both the senior division SEF and the 5-8th grade SEF," Bell said. "We had 23 out of the original 60 projects participate in the senior division and 40 out of the original 151 projects participate in the 5-8th grade division."

An interdisciplinary panel of judges helped with the fair, including faculty and staff from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; College of Engineering; College of Education and Health Professions; and U of A alumni.

The 1st-3rd place winners qualified for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which was to be held in Anaheim, California, last week. The ISEF still considers regional finalists to be Regeneron ISEF finalists and alumni of the Society for Science & the Public.

Top Four Overall Winners, Senior Division:

• 1st Place - Alice Cai, Fayetteville High School
• 2nd Place - London Blackwell, Alma High School
• 3rd Place - Zac McCoy, Alma High School
• 4th Place - Krysten Deavens, Fayetteville Christian

Overall Winners, 5th-8th Grade Division:

• 1st Place - Chandra Suda, Fulbright Junior High
• 2nd Place - Madeline Iverson, Bergman Middle School
• 3rd Place - Madison Reed, Bergman Middle School
• 4th Place - Sylvia Smith, St. Joseph Catholic School

ISEF Individual Finalists:

• Alice Cai, Fayetteville High School
• London Blackwell, Alma High School
• Zac McCoy, Alma High School

Bell said students appreciated the opportunity to compete this year, even if it was not the format they would have preferred.

Alma High School student Zac McCoy sent a thank-you note to Bell.

"Thank you for dedicating your time and effort to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair," he wrote. "Your work and time are changing the world. I am inspired by your work and dedication. Thank you for supporting students who, like me, are engaged in and dedicated to their individual research."