DOTHAN, Ala. – 24 Dothan City School (DCS) students will advance to the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF) next month to compete with their 15 science and engineering projects. Students from Heard Elementary School, Dothan Preparatory Academy, Jerry Lee Faine Elementary School, Highlands Elementary School, Selma Street Elementary School, Morris Slingluff Elementary School, The Carver School for Math, Science and Technology and Dothan High School will all compete virtually against schools from across the state. Dothan City Schools is the only district from the Wiregrass area to have students advance to ASEF.

In the Winter of 2021, Dothan City Schools hosted science fairs that advanced students to the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) Wiregrass District Science Fair in January. Out of the 14 awards given in grades 4 through 5, nine went to Dothan City School students. The other 41 students in grades 6 through 12 took the remaining 25 awards and traveled to Auburn University to compete in the Greater East Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (GEARSEF) on March 3.

At GEARSEF, in addition to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Awards, DCS students brought home 13 of the 18 Special Award Recognitions as well as placing in each category. In addition, out of the 16 Broadcom MASTERS Nominations awarded 13 Dothan City School students received nominations. The Broadcom MASTERS Nominations qualify students to compete at Broadcom MASTERS in Washington, D.C. have the opportunity to win valuable prizes and awards including $25,000, and more. Nominees are chosen among the top 10% of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade competitors at a Society-affiliated science and engineering fair in the United States.

“Onward we go!” says Dr. Mark Dunaway, District Instructional Specialist, who has overseen the K-12 science fair initiative this school year. Since August, our students have worn many hats to make it this far. “We’ve crushed our previous records,” says Dunaway. Nearly 40 students advanced to the regional fair last week in Auburn and now, 24 of the 39 are advancing to the state fair (ASEF) next month. “This is monumental for our school district and I’m serious!” he added. “I often get thank-yous from colleagues for our success, which is very kind,” says Dunaway, “but our success is about teamwork and putting our students at the forefront of everything we do.” 

ASEF is the Alabama State Science and Engineering Fair, an affiliate fair of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. ISEF, the premiere science competition in the world, annually provides a forum for millions of students from over 50 countries, regions, and territories to showcase their independent research. ASEF hosts middle and high school regional fair winners from across the state. Several exceptional high school students from ASEF will advance to the Regeneron ISEF in May and will compete against the top 1500 students in the world for nearly $4 million in prizes and scholarships.

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Additional Information:

GEARSEF 2022 Awards Ceremony Winners List from Dothan City Schools
(Junior and Senior Division)

Auburn University’s 100 Women Strong Achievement Award
Sponsored by: 100 Women Strong
This achievement award recognizes females that exemplify excellence through research in any category. Winners will receive the following -1st place $100 cash prize and a certificate, 2nd place $75 cash prize and a certificate, 3rd place $50 cash prize each and a certificate.

3rd Place: Abigail Baxley, Ella Burgess, Highlands Elementary School

AU Biological Sciences Awards for Outstanding Poster in Animal and Plant Sciences
Sponsored by: The Auburn University Department of Biological Science
This award recognizes an outstanding poster in the Animal and Plant Sciences Category. The winner will receive a $100 cash award and a certificate.

Devin Flowers, Jerry Lee Faine Elementary School

AU Biological Sciences Awards for Outstanding Poster in Medicine and Health Sciences
Sponsored by: The Auburn University Department of Biological Science
This award recognizes an outstanding poster in the Medicine and Health Sciences Category. the winner will receive a $100 cash award and a certificate.

Drake Randolph, Carver School for Math, Science and Technology

AU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Award
Sponsored by: AU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
This award recognizes high achievement in scientific research in the field of chemistry or biochemistry. The winner will receive a certificate and a $50 cash award.

Joseph Hathaway, Dothan Preparatory Academy 

AU Department of Geosciences Award
Sponsored by: AU Department of Geosciences
This award recognizes creative expression of mastering the concept of Earth as a system. The winner will receive a certificate and $50 cash award.

Ella Stephens, Rowynn Sullivan, Highlands Elementary School

AU Physics Award for Ingenuity and Inventiveness
Sponsored by: AU Department of Physics
Physical principles underlie all of science. This award is given in recognition of an individual who demonstrated an understanding of the laws of physics and how to use them to interpret and understand the world around us. The winner will receive a certificate and $50 cash award.

Alexander Vasquez, Carver School for Math, Science and Technology

AU Samuel Ginn College of Engineering Award
Sponsored by: Samuel Ginn College of Engineering Award, Office of the Dean
This award will be given to projects in any category that demonstrates an innovative application of math or science to a challenge of our society. The winner will receive a certificate and a $100 cash award.

Delroy Williams, Matthew Forsey, Peyton Dulaney, Selma Street Elementary School

AU Spirit of Excellence 
Sponsored by: The Auburn University COSAM Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity
This award recognizes any student for any category considered an underrepresented minority in STEM or persons with disabilities. The winner will receive a certificate and a $50 cash award.

Maurice Robinson, Heard Elementary School

Future Scientist Award
Sponsored by: The Dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics
The award will be given to the student, in any category, who demonstrated a complete, thorough and current understanding of a scientific topic during their interview. As such, this student shows great promise as a future researcher. The winner will receive a certificate and a $100 cash award.

Maurice Robinson, Heard Elementary School

Lemelson Early Inventor Prize 
Sponsored by: Lemelson Foundation
This award will recognize a young inventor creating a promising solution to real-world problems. The winner will receive a certificate and a $100 cash award.

Evan Nematpour, Morris Slingluff Elementary School

Naval Science Award
Sponsored by: Office of Naval Research
This award recognizes up to 2 students who demonstrated excellence in science research or engineering design. The winners will receive a certificate of achievement and a medallion.

Evan Nematpour, Morris Slingluff Elementary School

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Young Innovator Award
Sponsored by: Auburn University Chapter of SHPE
This award recognizes research excellence presented by a minority student in an effort to encourage a lifelong enthusiasm for the sciences in traditionally underrepresented demographics. The winner will receive a certificate and a $50 cash award.

Devin Flowers, Jerry Lee Faine Elementary School

Broadcom MASTERS Award (certificate):
The Broadcom MASTERS is the national competition for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who participate in affiliated science fairs. GEARSEF selects the top 10% of projects to continue their journey to the national competition. Broadcom MASTERS nominees are invited to complete the online application, and are eligible for valuable prizes and awards including $25,000, iPads, STEM summer camp, and more. This nomination is an honor, and distinguishes these projects as among the top 10% in the nation. From the complete list of entrants, the top 300 semi-finalists will be selected and announced next fall. This list of 300 will be narrowed to 30 and those students who are selected will win an all-expense-paid trip to the Broadcom MASTERS finals from October 27 – November 2, 2022 in Washington DC. 

Maurice Robinson, Heard Elementary School

Braylin Culver, Highlands Elementary School

Nautica Knight, Highlands Elementary School

Anna Lee Steltenpohl, Highlands Elementary School

Erin McKinley, Highlands Elementary School

Carter Bright, Carver School for Math, Science and Technology

Sterling Logsdon, Carver School for Math, Science and Technology

Kaelyn Pettway, Carver School for Math, Science and Technology

Peyton Danley, Selma Street Elementary School

Matthew Forsey, Selma Street Elementary School

Delroy Williams, Selma Street Elementary School

Joseph Hathaway, Dothan Preparatory Academy

Mary Kate Gowen, Dothan Preparatory Academy 

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GEARSEF Winners Advancing to ASEF (State Fair) 
Students: 24
Projects: 15 

 

Animal, Plant, Computational & Bioinformatics Science

1st Place (Junior Division): Maurice Robinson, Heard Elementary School

2nd Place (Junior Division): Mary Kate Gowen, Dothan Preparatory Academy

3rd Place (Junior Division): Devin Flowers, Jerry Lee Faine Elementary School 

 

Behavioral & Social Science

1st Place (Junior Division): Nautica Knight, Erin McKinley, Anna Lee Steltenphol, Highlands Elementary School

 

Chemistry 

3rd Place (Senior Division): Drinda Coachman, Dothan High School 

1st Place (Junior Division): Joseph Hathaway, Dothan Preparatory Academy

3rd Place (Junior Division): Logan Burkett, Jacob Champlin, Marshall Craft, Highlands Elementary School

 

Engineering Mechanics

1st Place (Junior Division): 

Sterling Logsdon, Carver School for Math, Science and Technology

2nd Place (Junior Division): 

Delroy Williams, Matthew Forsey, Peyton Dulaney, Selma Street Elementary School

3rd Place (Junior Division): Evan Nematpour, Morris Slingluff Elementary School 

 

Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design

3rd Place (Junior Division): 

Barron Cowart, Houston Fetsko, Zeke Slingluff, Carver School for Math, Science and Technology

 

Medicine, Health, & Translational Medicine Science 

2nd Place (Junior Division): Evan Dunn & Ethan Pemberton, Highlands Elementary School

 

Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics & Materials Science

1st Place (Junior Division): Carter Bright, Carver School for Math, Science and Technology

2nd Place (Junior Division): Braylin Culver, Highlands Elementary School

 

Bio-Engineering

1st Place (Junior Division): Kaelyn Pettway, Carver School for Math, Science and Technology