Woodstock Students Win Big in Science, Engineering Fair

Dozens of Cherokee County School District students did not walk away empty handed at the 65th Georgia Science and Engineering Fair.

Following following successful showings at local and regional events, many students won top awards at the fair. 

Thirteen school district projects won first-, second- or third-place awards at the state event, with 57 winning first-place or Cobb EMC honors at the Northwest Georgia Regional Science and Engineering Fair.  

Seventy-one students placed high enough in school-level competitions to qualify for the Regional fair. 

Woodstock High School saw the strongest showing with 10 students placing at the State and Regional levels and achieving numerous prestigious recognitions at the State fair including a Grand Award Top Ten State Recognition. 

“The Cherokee County School District has made its strong commitment to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education clear with the launch of STEM Academies at four of our elementary schools and the addition of more rigorous classes in these subjects at the middle and high school level, leading to all of our high schools being named AP STEM or AP STEM Achievement High Schools,” Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo said.  “These honors, coupled with what we’re seeing in the classroom and in assessment results, show us we’re on the right track to ensuring more of our students are prepared for successful STEM careers.”

CCSD students achieving State and Regional honors are:

Canton Elementary School STEM Academy

• Jacob Boykin, Physics, Cobb EMC Honors
• Mariana Pallares and Natalie Roland, Microbiology, Cobb EMC Honors

Chapman Intermediate School

• Caroline Booth and Rebecca Zimny, Engineering, Regional Second Honors and Cobb EMC Honors
• Lillian Zamorano, Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical, Regional First Honors
• Elaine Lippers and Gabby Melnyk, Medicine and Health Sciences, Regional Second Honors and Cobb EMC Honors

Cherokee High School

• Anais Paterno and Kirsten Rasmussen, Medicine and Health Sciences, Regional Third Honors and Cobb EMC Honors
• Abbie Ledford, Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical, State Fourth Honors Senior and Regional First Honors
• Grant Tyrolt, Chemistry, Cobb EMC Honors

Creekland Middle School

• Allison Luly, Engineering, Cobb EMC Honors
• Alex Roman, Mathematical Sciences, Cobb EMC Honors

Dean Rusk Middle School

• Kalin Valone, Animal Sciences, State Third Honors Junior; H.O. Lund Entomology Club Award, Honorable Mention Junior; Regional First Honors; Tellus Museum Award Alternate; and Cobb EMC Honors
• Rebekah Carnes and Katie Rump, Environmental Sciences, Regional Third Honors and Cobb EMC Honors

E.T. Booth Middle School

• Irene Dong, Physics, Regional Third Honors and Cobb EMC Honors
• James McCoy, Engineering, Regional Second Honors, Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority Honors and Cobb EMC Honors

Freedom Middle School

• Alec Letsinger, Energy, State Director's Choice Award Junior Division; State Second Honors Junior; Regional First Honors; Tellus Museum Award Alternate; and Cobb EMC Honors
• Savannah Devine, Engineering, Cobb EMC Honors

Holly Springs Elementary School STEM Academy

• Mason Adams, Engineering, Cobb EMC Honors
• Presley Coley, Earth Science, Cobb EMC Honors

Indian Knoll Elementary School

• Alexander Kountz, Chemistry, Cobb EMC Honors
• Elijah Moore, Chemistry, Cobb EMC Honors

Knox Elementary School

• Michael Page and Hunter Woodall, Plant Sciences, Cobb EMC Honors
• Mikala Arrington and Rhianna Spears, Earth Science, Cobb EMC Honors

Mill Creek Middle School

• Claire Chen, Environmental Management, Cobb EMC Honors
• Billie O'Bryant, Environmental Management, Cobb EMC Honors

Mountain Road Elementary School

• Ryan Wakefield, Energy & Transportation, Cobb EMC Honors
• Shelby Geiger, Physics, Regional First Honors and Cobb EMC Honors

R.M. Moore Elementary School

• Gracie Henson, Behavioral & Social Sciences, Cobb EMC Honors
• Alyssa Chester, Medicine and Health Sciences, Cobb EMC Honors

Sequoyah High School

• Lea Peters, Chemistry, Regional Third Honors and Cobb EMC Honors
• Carrington Chun and Jacob Tye, Engineering, State Second Honors Senior; U.S. Army Certificate of Achievement; Regional First Honors; and Cobb EMC Honors

Teasley Middle School

• Robert Perdue, Energy and Transportation, Regional Third Honors and Cobb EMC Honors
• Miranda Peterson, Animal Science, Regional Third Honors and Cobb EMC Honors

Woodstock High School

• Adrea Mueller, Microbiology, State First Honors Senior and Regional First Honors
• Hunter Williams, Environmental Sciences, State Third Honors Senior, Regional First Honors and Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority Honors
• Garrett Leffelman, Physics & Astronomy, State Second Honors Senior; American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics Third Place Senior; and Regional First Honors
• Elena Ruiz and Paula Ruiz, Animal Sciences, State First Honors Senior; H.O. Lund Entomology Club Award Senior Team Project; and Regional First Honors
• Joshua Chang, Engineering: Materials & Bioengineering, State Third Honors Senior and Regional First Honors 
• Ghazal Ahmad, Microbiology, State First Honors Senior; University of Georgia Microbiology Department Award Senior Division; and Regional First Honors
• Alexandra Melehan, Plant Sciences, State Grand Award Top Ten State Recognition; State First Honors Senior; U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Award Senior Division; and Regional First Honors Genius Olympiad Award
• Calvin Ebert, Behavioral & Social Sciences, State Third Honors Senior and Regional First Honors
• David Pearson, Behavioral & Social Sciences, State First Honors Senior; U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Award Senior Division; U.S. Army Certificate of Achievement; and Regional First Honors
• Taylor Head, Environmental Sciences, State First Honors Senior; Association of Women Geoscientists Award; U.S. Army Special Award in Environmental Sciences; U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Award Senior Division; University of Georgia Eco-Reach Environmental Achievement Award Senior Division; Regional First Honors; Tellus Museum Award Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority Honors; and Cobb EMC Honors

Woodstock Middle School

• Jacob Rigsby, Chemistry, Regional Third Honors; Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority Honors; and Cobb EMC Honors
• Virginia Cason and Hailey Elswick & Anna Weissel, Environmental Sciences, Regional First Honors
• Preston Alsup and Garrett Bass, Medicine and Health Sciences, Regional Second Honors and Cobb EMC Honors

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