The original scientific research of Fayette’s middle and high school students earned top honors at the 70th Georgia Science and Engineering Fair held recently at the Classic Center in Athens.

A total of 15 students received outstanding, best in category and grand awards for their projects. 

McIntosh High students Caitlin Van Zyl and Jacqueline Van Zyl, received the competition’s grand award for their project, Experimental External Neural Pathway for Motion and Stroke Victims.

The Outstanding Seventh Grade Award went to the Whitewater Middle team of Jacob Morrison, Brandon Stephenson and Luke Walls for their project, Collision Chaos. 

Best in Category awards went to the J.C. Booth Middle team of Alexa Markley and Carly Nixon (Chemistry, Junior Division) for their project, Baking Soda and Vinegar Rockets;  the Whitewater Middle team of Olivia Ray and Emily Wagner (Environmental Engineering, Junior Division) for their project, Deluxe Diapers; the McIntosh High team of Jacqueline Van Zyl and Caitlin Van Zyl (Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Senior Division) for their project, Experimental External Neural Pathway for Motion and Stroke Victims; and to Adrien Richez of McIntosh High (Chemical, Senior Division) for his project, The Manipulation of Solid Rocket Fuel.

Additionally 18 students received special awards for their work from the fair’s sponsoring organizations. Adrien Richez of McIntosh High received the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics First Place Senior Division award. Another McIntosh High student, Elizabeth Larsen, earned the American Psychological Association Award. 

Whitewater Middle School students Jacob Morrison, Olivia Ray, Brandon Stephenson, Emily Wagner, and Luke Walls received the Broadcom Masters Nominee Award.

Marc Van Zyl of McIntosh High was presented with the Georgia Engineering Foundation Award of Excellence for Impact on Better Living (Junior Division).

The Inspiring Excellence award went to Jacqueline Van Zyl and Caitlin Van Zyl of McIntosh High, and Sam Triplett, also of McIntosh High, received the Intel Excellence Computer Science Award. 

Dana Gould of Starr’s Mill High was named a National Youth Science Camp alternate.

The Naval Science Award (Junior Division) was presented to Marc Van Zyl of J.C. Booth Middle, and the Naval Science Award (Senior Division) went to Adrien Richez of McIntosh High and Dean Rowell of Starr’s Mill High. 

Students named as alternates for the Tellus Future Science Stars Award were Mac Dannelly of J.C. Booth Middle, Nick Farinacci of J.C. Booth Middle, and Marissa Heinsz of Starr’s Mill High.