STEM 360: Connecting Students to STEM Pathways

FIRST LEGO League Challenge introduces students to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through hands-on robotics, research, teamwork, and problem-solving. Teams of students work with adult coaches and mentors to design, build, and program an autonomous LEGO® Education robot to complete missions on a themed competition field.

The program extends beyond robotics. Each team investigates a real-world challenge, develops and presents an innovative solution, and demonstrates the FIRST® Core Values of discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork, and fun. Students complete the work while coaches and mentors provide appropriate guidance and encouragement.

The CETC Outreach & Career Development Office serves in a regional leadership role by coordinating the Savannah State University FIRST LEGO League Challenge Super Regional Tournament and supporting participating schools, teams, coaches, volunteers, and community partners.

Learn More About FIRST LEGO League in Georgia

The Savannah State University Regional Science and Engineering Fair provides students with opportunities to investigate real-world questions, apply scientific and engineering design processes, and present their work to qualified judges. Participation strengthens critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, creativity, time management, and other skills essential for academic and career success.

The SSU Regional Science and Engineering Fair is officially affiliated with the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF). Eligible students selected at the SSU Regional Fair may advance to compete at the statewide GSEF.

Two primary types of recognition are presented: category awards and special awards.

Category awards are determined by judges based on the quality of each project and its performance within the assigned category. First-, second-, and third-place awards may be presented; however, the number and level of awards depend on project quality and participation within each category. Placement is not guaranteed, even when a category has only one or two entries. Every project must meet the Fair’s established standards to receive an award.

Special awards are sponsored by participating businesses, professional associations, government agencies, educational institutions, and community organizations. Eligibility requirements vary by sponsor, and recipients are selected by designated special-award judges.

• Register for the SSU Regional Science and Engineering Fair
• Learn More About the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair

The former STEM 360 Summer Enrichment Camp is no longer offered in its previous format. With current Title III funding directed toward the STEM Esports Activity, summer engagement has transitioned to partnership-based programming that uses esports, technology, teamwork, and career exploration to introduce students to STEM-related academic and workforce pathways.

Recent summer engagement included two-week sessions conducted in collaboration with Savannah State University TRIO Programs—Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound—as well as a three-week summer camp offered in partnership with the City of Savannah. The CETC Outreach & Career Development Office also coordinated separate engagement activities involving participants in the STAR School Initiative.

Future summer activities will depend on available funding, staffing, institutional priorities, and partner support.

Savannah State University proudly announces the official results of the 2026 Regional Science & Engineering Fair. After a comprehensive review process conducted by our distinguished panel of judges, the following projects have earned category awards.

All awarded projects listed below will advance to represent the region at the Georgia State Science & Engineering Fair.
This year’s competition showcased exceptional innovation, research rigor, and scientific excellence across both divisions.

BEST IN FAIR AWARDS

Best in Fair – High School
Tallulah Pair, Savannah Arts Academy, Testing the Acid-Ash Hypothesis: Exploring the Impact of Protein on Bone Strength. Category: Translational Medical Science

Best in Fair – Middle School
Lila Evans, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, “Shining Light to End Plastic’s Flight!” Category: Chemistry

HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY AWARDS

Translational Medical Science
First Place: Tallulah Pair, Savannah Arts Academy – Testing the Acid-Ash Hypothesis: Exploring the Impact of Protein on Bone Strength

Second Place: Raeed Ahad, Statesboro High School – Targeting Atherosclerosis via CD36 Inhibition

Robotics
First Place: Emeline Giordano & Alexis Mincey, Islands High School – Can A.I. Spot A.I.?

Engineering Mechanics
First Place: Madilynn Hagemes, Savannah Arts Academy – How Does Prolonged Exposure to Hot Water Influence the Release of Chemical Contaminants from Different Residential Plumbing Pipe Materials into Drinking Water?

Second Place: Siddartha Sarakadam, Jenkins High School – Space Junk: Developing a Solution to the Evolving Space Debris Problem

Engineering: General & Sustainable Design
First Place: Jun Hao Lin & Ishant Singh, Jenkins High School – REST Regenerative Energy Suspension Tire

Second Place: Andrew Davis & Michael Cooler, Islands High School – Insulation and Sustainability

Biomedical Engineering
First Place: Kaylee Adkins, Statesboro High School – Using the Worm-Like Chain Model to Show How Higher ATP Levels During DNA Duplication Increase Mutation Risk

Animal Sciences
First Place: Emma Bliss, Islands High School – Blue Crab Bait Wars

Second Place: Mia Whitmore & Avery Ramsey, Islands High School – Effect of Acidification on Marine Invertebrate Shells

Environmental Engineering
First Place: Suceli Perez Lopez, Jazmine Brown, and Noe Mateos, Alfred Ely Beach High School – Spanish Moss as an Additive or Alternative Material for Recycled Paper Production

Biochemistry
First Place: Peyton Chapman, Statesboro High School – How Does Insecticide Location Affect the Ratio of Flies and Maggot Numbers to a Chicken Leg?

Earth & Environmental Sciences
First Place: Shrila Patel, Abigayle Deane Cook, and Nicolle Destini Eady, School of Liberal Studies at Savannah High – Small Bits – Big Waves

Cellular & Molecular Biology
First Place: Walter Yang, Savannah Arts Academy –  Inducing Accelerated Antimicrobial Resistance in Non-Pathogenic Bacteria

MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORY AWARDS

Chemistry
First Place: Lila Evans, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School – “Shining Light to End Plastic’s Flight!”

Materials Science
First Place: Merrin Chapman, William James Middle School – A Pyromaniac’s Science Project: How Do Different Combustibles Used in Raku Firing Affect Glaze Color?

Second Place: Lundyn Brown, The STEM Academy at Bartlett – Which Brand of Paper Towel Is Most Absorbent Before Oversaturation?

Third Place: Colin Senger, Kaden Davis, and Harold (Hank) Mathews, Tybee Island Maritime Academy – Different Cooling Methods Change Performance

Cellular & Molecular Biology
First Place: Addison Padgett, The STEM Academy at Bartlett – Does a Higher Concentration of Microplastics in Irrigation Water Affect the Growth of Bermuda Grass Over a three-week Period?

Second Place: Emilia Mackowiak, The STEM Academy at Bartlett – How Does Acid Rain Affect the Cellular Structure of Grass?

Plants
First Place: Amayra Jaglan, Godley Station School – Georgia Garden Showdown

Second Place: Amelia Hotard, St. James Catholic School – Do Tomatoes Grow Better Upside Down?

Third Place: Cecelia Swope, Elliott Clackum, and Sean Wilder, Tybee Island Maritime Academy – How Do Different Light Frequencies Affect Vitamin C in Oranges?

Engineering Mechanics
First Place: Ace Stringfellow, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School – A Wave Energy Conversion Machine in Action

Biomedical Engineering
First Place: Righteous Tangie, John W. Hubert Middle School – Framing Intelligence: Perception Through Terminology

Physics & Astronomy
First Place: Jackson Gulle, St. James Catholic School – Aerodynamic Efficiency of Vehicle Body Shapes

Second Place: Thomas Tessier, St. James Catholic School – How Does the Amount of Water in a Bottle Rocket Affect Its Range?

Third Place: Dominic Strazzella, Tybee Island Maritime Academy – The Roller Coaster Launch

Closing Statement
Savannah State University commends all participating students, educators, and families for their dedication to scientific inquiry and innovation.
We proudly look forward to these outstanding young scholars representing our region at the Georgia State Science & Engineering Fair.