Rockdale Citizen

Staff Photos: Sue Ann Kuhn-Smith Jenny Kim, a senior at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, is interviewed by judges at the Rockdale Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Friday. About 50 judges interviewed more than 150 middle and high school students at the fair.

CONYERS -- More than 150 students spent Friday explaining things like piezoelectric nanogenerators and the effects of biochar mixtures on the growth of plants.

Rockdale County Public Schools held its own regional science and engineering fair for the second consecutive year after being told that the Northeast Georgia Regional Science and Engineering Fair no longer could accommodate them last year.

"Now we're one of the largest regional science and engineering fairs in the state of Georgia," said Gene Baker, assistant superintendent for School Improvement at RCPS.

The program also is now affiliated through the International Sustainable World (Engineering, Energy & Environment) Project.

"It's quite an accomplishment," Baker said.

Due to students' success in state and international competitions last year, RCPS is allowed to send 30 students to the state competition and three to the international competition.

"It's an exciting opportunity that Rockdale is allowed to have its own regional fair," said Amanda Baskett, a co-director of the fair. "It's nice to see students be recognized for their success and doing great in science."

After being interviewed and judged on their projects, 10 individuals or teams were selected as middle school grand champions and will advance to their Georgia Science & Engineering Fair in March with their projects, and 20 individuals or teams were selected as high school grand champions, allowing them to compete at the state fair.

The top middle school projects, labeled the Broadcom Masters Winners, are team Rasul Dent and Jayshon Adams; team Caleb Longnecker and Sebastian Mosley; Mia Nguyen and Wesley Thomas. They will submit their papers to Broadcom for consideration of a national award.

Senior Katlyn Firkus, junior Heeyoon Kim and senior Lauren Reagin will advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair competition in Pittsburgh in May. Senior Kellie Fair and a team made up of Johnathan Davis, Aaron Barron and Crystal Brockington will compete in the I-SWEEEP olympiads in Houston in May.

Projects were judged by about 50 community members on how well they were developed, creativity and the depth of scientific knowledge.

More than 100 high school projects were entered from all three high schools and the Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, and more than 60 middle school projects were entered from all four middle schools.