Dozens of students from Lexington-Richland School District Five competed and won awards in this year’s University of South Carolina (USC) Regional Science & Engineering Fair held March 19.
“Congratulations to these students and thank you to all of the district teachers for the hours of extra time that is required to support participation in the region fair and other events,” School District Five Coordinator of Science and Health Beth Boland said. “Preparation for, and participation in this event provides a unique opportunity for students to hone a skill set (beyond science) that will stand them in good stead throughout life. Each year these students engage in scientific research, critically examine data, apply statistical methods, and receive feedback leading up to the regional fair to continuously improve their projects. Perhaps most significant is the opportunity students have to hone presentation skills and become comfortable answering questions from experts in the field.”
Top winners at the SC Regional II Fair are qualified to enter the International Science and Engineering Fair.
The following is a list of the 2023 USC Regional Science & Engineering Fair winners for the Junior and Senior Divisions:
Junior Division
Biological Sciences Awards
Honorable Mention: Hannah Beth Berley (Harbison West Elementary)
Geology/General Sciences Awards
3rd Place: Aira Brown (Dutch Fork Middle)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Outstanding Achievement: Aira Brown (Dutch Fork Middle)
Mathematics Awards
1st Place: Cameron Hashmi (Chapin Middle)
Physics Awards
2nd Place: Brayden Grayce Antley (Chapin Intermediate)
3rd Place: Trent Schumaker (Chapin Intermediate)
Honorable Mention: Sloan Donahue (Chapin Intermediate)
Engineering Awards
2nd Place: Parker Dhotre (Leaphart Elementary)
3rd Place: Morgan Eslinger (Chapin Intermediate)
USC School of Medicine Health Research Development Awards
1st Place: Mustafa Azhar (Dutch Fork Middle)
3rd Place: Ella Davis (Chapin Intermediate)
Honorable Mention: Liliana Hahn (Chapin Intermediate)
Computer Science Awards
3rd Place: Cameron Hashmi (Chapin Middle)
Vision Science Awards
2nd Place: Ella Davis (Chapin Intermediate)
Fair Director Award
Outstanding Achievement: Ruhao Shen (Chapin Middle)
U.S. Metric Association Awards
3rd Place: Trent Schumaker (Chapin Intermediate)
Honorable Mention: Cameron Hashmi (Chapin Middle)
Honorable Mention: Parker Dhotre (Leaphart Elementary)
Honorable Mention: Sloan Donahue (Chapin Intermediate)
Environmental Protection Agency Award
Outstanding Achievement: Ian Clark (Chapin Intermediate)
Columbia Audubon Society Awards
Outstanding Achievement: Mustafa Azhar (Dutch Fork Middle)
Outstanding Achievement: Aira Brown (Dutch Fork Middle)
Bill’s Music Parlor
Outstanding Achievement: Ruhao Shen (Chapin Middle)
Congaree/Robert Mitchell Young Ecologist Award
1st Place: Mustafa Azhar (Dutch Fork Middle)
Dr. Gary L. Award
2nd Place: Walker Baker (Chapin Intermediate)
Honorable Mention: Morgan Eslinger (Chapin Intermediate)
Honorable Mention: Brayden Grayce Antley (Chapin Intermediate)
University of South Carolina-Sumter
Outstanding Achievement Earth/Physical Sciences/Engineering: Walker Baker (Chapin Intermediate)
Outstanding Achievement Earth/Physical Sciences/Engineering: Brayden Grayce Antley (Chapin Intermediate)
Central South Carolina Best 5th Grade Projects
9th Outstanding Achievement: Liliana Hahn (Chapin Intermediate)
13th Outstanding Achievement Lyla Granite (Harbison West Elementary)
14th Outstanding Achievement: Parker Dhotre (Leaphart Elementary)
Best Three 5th Grade Projects
1st Place: Lyla Granite: (Harbison West Elementary)
Central South Carolina Best 6th Grade Projects
2nd Outstanding Achievement: Ian Clark (Chapin Intermediate)
3rd Outstanding Achievement: Morgan Eslinger (Chapin Intermediate)
4th Outstanding Achievement: Ella Davis (Chapin Intermediate)
6th Outstanding Achievement: Trent Schumaker (Chapin Intermediate)
Best Three 6th Grade Projects
1st Place: Morgan Eslinger (Chapin Intermediate)
3rd Place: Ella Davis (Chapin Intermediate)
Central South Carolina Best 7th Grade Projects
1st Outstanding Achievement: Mustafa Azhar (Dutch Fork Middle)
2nd Outstanding Achievement: Cameron Hashmi (Chapin Middle)
5th Outstanding Achievement: Stella Hubbard and Naomi Khan (Chapin Middle)
Best Three 7th Grade Projects
2nd Place: Mustafa Azhar (Dutch Fork Middle)
Region II Grand Team Awards Junior Division
3rd Place: Stella Hubbard and Naomi Khan (Chapin Middle)
3rd Place: Mustafa Azhar (Dutch Fork Middle)
Senior Division
Biological Sciences Awards
3rd Place: Bryson Massey (Chapin High)
Chemistry Awards
1st Place: Logan Ray (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Honorable Mention: Joseph Kiser (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Geology/General Science Awards
1st Place: Carlynn Rychener (Chapin High)
Behavioral and Social Sciences Awards
2nd Place: Megan Ihrie (Chapin High)
3rd Place: Zachary Slice (Chapin High)
Honorable Mention: Leeton Brown (Chapin High)
Outstanding Research in Psychology
1st Place: Kathryn Stover (Chapin High)
Engineering Awards
Honorable Mention: Russell Gilstrap (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Medicine and Health Research Development Awards
1st Place: Aamina Azhar (Dutch Fork High)
2nd Place: Megan Keener (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Computer Science Award
1st Place: Andy Yang (Dutch Fork High)
Naval Science Award
Distinguished Achievement: Lauren Jordan (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Distinguished Achievement: Daisy Walsh (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Vision Science Awards
1st Place: Arteom Fatnik (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
2nd Place: Abigail White (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
3rd Place: Holly Le (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Fair Director Award
Outstanding Achievement: Megan Ihrie (Chapin High)
Outstanding Achievement: Zachary Slice (Chapin High)
U.S. Metric Association Award
2nd Place: J’Den O’Neal (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Yale Science and Engineering Association, Inc. Award
Outstanding Achievement: Andy Yang (Dutch Fork High)
US Agency for International Development
Outstanding Achievement: Megan Keener (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
U.S. Regional Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Outstanding Achievement: Caleb Clark (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Outstanding Achievement: Carlynn Rychener (Chapin High)
National Geographic Award
Outstanding Achievement: Michael Ziehl (Chapin High)
Columbia Audubon Society Awards
Outstanding Achievement: Carlynn Rychener (Chapin High)
Bill’s Picking Parlor
Outstanding Achievement: Carlynn Rychener (Chapin High)
Ricoh Sustainable Development Award
Outstanding Achievement: Logan Ray (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Congaree/Robert Mitchell Young Ecologist Award
Outstanding Achievement: Carlynn Rychener (Chapin High)
Dr. Gary L. Award
1st Place: Bryce Baughman (Chapin High)
2nd Place: Andrew Farmer (Chapin High)
Honorable Mention: Ethan Aaron, Jackson Brinkman, and Aidan Stam (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Honorable Mention: Aiden Fulkerson and Lucas Pearson (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Honorable Mention: Alandre Atkinson and Emily Mulalley (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Honorable Mention: Elinor Limbaugh (Chapin High)
Honorable Mention: Emily Hawkins (Chapin High)
Honorable Mention: Sarayu Vuddandapu (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Honorable Mention: Andy Yang (Dutch Fork High)
Honorable Mention: Finnley Walsh (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Region II Grand Awards: Teams
1st Place: Ethan Aaron, Jackson Brinkman, and Aidan Stam (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
2nd Place: Ian Rogers, Jason Wu and Ryan Zheng (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
3rd Place: Aiden Fulkerson and Lucas Pearson (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Honorable Mention: Tristan Burge, Joseph Folding, and Ryan Riddle (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Community Innovation Award
1st Place: Ethan Aaron, Jackson Brinkman, and Aidan Stam (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Region II Grand Awards: Best Projects Senior Division (Male)
1st Place: Andy Yang (Dutch Fork High)
3rd Place: Ethan Aaron, Jackson Brinkman, and Aidan Stam (Center for Advanced Technical Studies)
Region II Grand Awards: Best Projects Senior Division (Female)
1st Place: Carlynn Rychener (Chapin High)
3rd Place: Aamina Azhar (Dutch Fork High)
