Pasco Students Excel at State STEM Fair

LAKELAND, FL – Pasco County students won several awards at the 61st Annual State STEM Fair, held March 31 and April 1 at The Lakeland Center.

Out of the district’s 24 state participants, 14 placed or earned awards provided by regional fairs and event sponsors. More than 900 students across the state competed in the fair. Students qualified based on judge recommendation, scores, and research quality at their regional fair.

The Pasco Regional Science and Engineering Fair included Pasco County traditional public, charter, and private school students. Viraj Patel of J.W. Mitchell High School and Pranav Warman from Academy at the Lakes qualified for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix for having the top high school regional projects.

Pasco students were recognized in the following state categories:

Mathematics and Computational Sciences

• First Place: Pranav Warman, Academy at the Lakes
• Engineering
• Second Place: Achyudhan Kutuva, Dr. John Long Middle School
• Third Place: Charles Reedy, Crews Lake Middle School
• Fourth Place: Alyssa Perez, Centennial Middle School

Physics and Astronomy

• Third Place: Roshan Warman, Academy at the Lakes
• Fourth Place: Sarah Menard, Charles S. Rushe Middle School

Cellular/Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

• Fourth Place: Anmol Warman, Academy at the Lakes

Animal Sciences

• Fourth Place: Riya Choksi, Seven Springs Middle School

Behavioral and Social Science

• Honorable Mention: Katie McCormick, Academy at the Lakes

Biomedical and Health Sciences

• Recognition Award: Regan McCormick, Academy at the Lakes

Chemistry

Recognition Award: Drew Burgess, Charles S. Rushe Middle School

Earth and Environmental Science

Honorable Mention: Madeline Murch, Bishop Larkin Catholic School

Special Awards

• Neto Coulbaly, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Suwannee Valley Regional Science and Engineering Fair - $25 Award

• Achyudhan Kutuva, Dr. John Long Middle School, Broadcom Masters Certificate and nominated

• Madeline Murch, Bishop Larkin Catholic School, American Meteorological Association

• Sarah Menard, Charles S. Rushe Middle School, Association for Women Geoscientists Foundation Certificate

• Viraj Patel, J.W. Mitchell High School, Florida Association for Science Supervisors - $50 Award

• Charles Reedy, Crews Lake Middle School, Office of Naval Research Medallion and Certificate

• Pranav Warman, Academy at the Lakes, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - $200 Award; Intel Excellence in Computer Science - $200 Award; Mu Alpha Theta Certificate

For more information about the 61st State STEM Fair results, contact Laura Rulison-Lange at (727) 644-8561.

Image via Shutterstock

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