Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Regional Science Fair

Young scientists put on their lab coats and got to work to share experiments Feb. 25 at the Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Regional Science Fair at Clemson University's Madren Conference Center. Entries explored everything from the effect of colas on beef liver to clean cutting boards and regenerating electricity.

"Science fairs allow students to see how a project applies to everyday life. It can be an eye opening experience for them," said Angela Foxx, director of the fair.                                                                         

Nearly 200 scientists, engineers, and doctors from the community volunteered their time and expertise to judge the competition.  More than $15,000 in awards were at stake. Prizes ranged from cash to laptop computers to an all-expenses-paid trip for up to two students and one teacher to the international competition at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta, Ga. in May.

Judging is over and it's Awards time! On March 11^th, the winners of the Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Regional Science Fair collected their prizes at the Brooks Center on the Clemson University campus.

Griffin Binniker of Wren Elementary School in Anderson District 1 took first place in the elementary division with a project in the Earth/Space Science & Weather category titled "Holding Back the Flood." As a first-place winner, Griffin collected the Wal-Mart Grand Prize, a desktop computer.                                                                                                                                
In the junior division, Matthew Turner, a seventh-grader of McCants Middle School in Anderson District 5 won for the project "Tomatoes, Potatoes & Peppers." He also walked away with a desktop computer for his Wal-Mart Grand prize win.                         

In the senior division, 11th-grader Taylor Fitch from Belton Honea Path High School in Anderson District 2 was the winner. As the Senior Wal-Mart Grand Prize winner, Taylor received a laptop computer. She also was selected as the Intel winner and will attend the international competition at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta, Ga., in May. Taylor won for the project entitled "Aim to Write" in the category of Life Sciences.  

Sponsors of the fair included Clemson University, Wal-Mart, Duke Energy Co., The Investment Center, Blue Mountain Media, Michelin North America, Sandvik/Valenite, Blue Ridge Electric, Itron, Milliken, BorgWarner and Palmetto Surgery Associates.