Dorchester County families and Dorchester County Public School (DCPS) staff came together to celebrate students in grades 6, 7, & 8 for their accomplishments at the DCPS Science Fair and STEM Festival.  For the first time, a STEM Festival component was incorporated into the festivities; the STEM Festival event served as a kickoff to the announcement of winners.  The STEM Festival activities were courtesy of our very own DCPS Project Lead The Way teacher, Mr. Ji Park, who teaches at North Dorchester Middle School; and Discovery Education representatives, Mr. David Robbins and Ms. Cynthia Marbley.

This year, the criteria were much more STEM-focused – honing in on students’ ability to solve problems and work as a team.  Middle school students were allowed to work on their own or as a group.  Students were rewarded for their hard work, for each grade level was awarded a first place prize in the individual category, as well as a first place prize in the group category.  This year’s first place winners were awarded the ultimate STEM prize, a brand new tablet.  The project of the year recipient also received gift cards to purchase STEM apps and a case for her new tablet.  Science Fair ribbons were awarded to first place, second place, third place, and honorable mention participants.  Everyone who made it to the district level received a certificate of participation, and will be partaking in the Science Fair Incentive Field Trip scheduled to take place May 25, 2016 (Mace’s Lane Middle School) and May 26, 2016 (North Dorchester Middle School and South Dorchester K – 8 School) at Horn Point Laboratory.

The overall winner and project of the year recipient was eighth grader Sara Mills from South Dorchester with the project entitled, “Arsenic in Water.”