Young scientific minds put on a show for judges at the regional competition of the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair in Griffin.

In addition to advancing 12 projects to the state competition later this month and two to the international championship in May, judges also awarded 11 special recognitions.

Emma Kearney and Will Kearney, McIntosh High, who are automatically advancing to the international tournament, received the American Psychological Association Award, Scientific American Award for Outstanding Achievement in Education and UGA-Griffin Campus Award. Stefan Coburn of Fayette County High, who is also automatically advancing to the international competition, received the Scientific American Award for Outstanding Achievement in Education.

Chris Eckhardt, Starr’s Mill High, was awarded the ASM Materials Education Foundation Certificate of Recognition and U.S. Army Certificate of Achievement.

Christian Concepion and Asad Abdulla, Fayette County High, received the Herbert Hoover Young Engineer Award and U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Award.

Nicole Kawahata and Shannon Smith, both of J.C. Booth Middle, David Griffith, Jake Hancock and Mitchell Watson, Flat Rock Middle, Justin Buchanan and Shawn McVicker, Rising Starr Middle, Larissa Romanow, Jackie Roshelli and Courtney Stone, J.C. Booth Middle, and Brahma Natarajan, also of J.C. Booth Middle, received the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge.

Omar Martinez-Uribe of Fayette Middle was awarded the International Society for Optical Engineering Award.            

John Grimes of Whitewater High earned the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award and Katie Runyan of Starr’s Mill High received the National Society of Professional Engineers Certificate of Achievement.  

Brein Millea of Starr’s Mill High earned the UGA-Griffin Campus Award and Zenia Zheng of J.C. Booth Middle and Camara Carter and Poonim Daya, both of Flat Rock Middle, received the U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Award.

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