ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public School’ (RCPS) brightest young scientific minds and the research they conducted in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields were in the spotlight at the 2026 Rockdale Regional Science and Engineering Fair (RRSEF).
There are 47 Grand Champion RCPS students advancing to the state level, the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF). Four students are advancing internationally as finalists at the prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and more are advancing to national competitions. A total of 169 students entered this 17th annual RRSEF competition in 21 different categories and were evaluated by more than 70 accomplished professionals as volunteer judges.
The Jan. 23 fair was held at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology.
GRAND CHAMPION, SENIOR DIVISION (high school projects advancing to state level Georgia Science and Engineering Fair):
Jalen Thornton and Marcus McElroy, Lailah Evans, Caleb Barnwell, Gabrielle Christie, Myles Fowler, Evelyn Vera Palacio, Mason Reece, Francisco Rodriguez, Jasiah Melville, Andre Kellogg and Anthony Boyce, Johanna Rhee and Savannah Giddens, Olivia Land, Oyinkansola Omotoso, Nathaniel Sneed, Alison Huynh and Kina Burris, Neil Sethi and Toan Do, Ximena Sanchez-Balderas, Brandon Gibson, Sophia Zakirova and Ari Foster, Caitlyn Rivera, Jamal Yassin, Raegan McCambry, Isabella Waller, Isabelle Jean-Louis, Abi Bamidele and Leah Phillips, Chloe Parkman, McKenzie Broughton, Kirsten Black, Muna Yassin, Savannah Browne, Devin Swims and Jackie Pimentel-Martinez, London Scarlett.
GRAND CHAMPION, JUNIOR DIVISION (middle school projects advancing to state level Georgia Science and Engineering Fair):
Jameson Boyd, Ian Land, Kaighan Poff, Shree Shinghaniya, Tristan Andrews, Jayden Hector, Aubree Stephens.
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair Award (projects advancing to international competition):
Chloe Parkman (“Introduction to a Nanofiber Hydrogel Composite”), Gabrielle Christie (“Modeling Selfish Routing: Experimental Analysis of Pigou’s Example, Braess’ Paradox, and Congestion Pricing”), Savannah Giddens and Joanna Rhee (“Invertebrate Gastrointestinal Modeling of CNT-Protein Nanocarriers for Oral Prostate Cancer Therapeutics”)
NCSSS Student Conference Award (projects advancing to national competition):
Isabelle Jean-Louis, Evelyn Vera Palacio, Myles Fowler, Marcus McElroy, Jalen Thornton, Jamal Yassin.
Regeneron Biomedical Sciences Award:
Joanna Rhee and Savannah Giddens.
Lemelson Early Inventor Award (top middle school project):
Keighan Poff.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge Award (top middle school projects):
Jameson Boyd, Keighan Poff, Ian Land.
Outstanding Application of Engineering Skills Award:
Mason Reece.
Outstanding Application of Mathematics Skills Award:
Gabrielle Christie.
SPECIALTY AWARDS:
American Psychological Association:
Andre Kellogg and Anthony Boyce.
Association for Women Geoscientists:
Angel Bristow.
Kennedy “Making Sense of Science” Award:
Mason Reece.
Lab Safety Award:
Chloe Parkman, Myles Fowler, Benjamin Fisher, Zachary Thomas, and Uriah Wilson.
NASA Earth Systems Science Award:
Neil Sethi and Toan Do.
NOAA “taking the Pulse of the Planet” Award:
Tuesday Brooks.
Perseverance Award:
London McAlister, Vanessa Dingle, Kody Washington, Devin Swims, Jackie Pimentel-Martinez, Gabrielle Gayle, Mary Whitley Nelson, Jasmin Carrasco Perez, Micheal Williamson, Emily Cuenca, Khloe Little, John Kratz, Nathaniel Shelton, and Carl Williams.
Ricoh Sustainable Development Award:
Jaiden Flagg
Stockholm Junior Water Prize:
Kaitlin Coakley.
US Air Force Award:
Muna Yassin, Sophia Zakirova, Ari Foster, Caleb Barnwell.
Office of Naval Research Award:
Junior Division Winners – Shree Shinghaniya, Tristan Andrews and Jayden Hector.
Senior Division Winners – Francisco Rodriguez, Jasiah Melville, Caitlyn Rivera.
US Metric Association SI Metric Award:
Isabella Waller.
Yale Science & Engineering Association Award:
Mason Reece.
FIRST PLACE, SENIOR DIVISION (high school):
Aiden Westbrook, Angel Bristow, Jaylen Thornton and Marcus McElroy, Lailah Evans, Caleb Barnwell, Gabrielle Christie, Myles Fowler, Evelyn Vera Palacio, Francisco Rodriguez, Mason Reece, Jasiah Melville, London Scarlett, Andre Kellogg and Anthony Boyce, Johanna Rhee and Savannah Giddens, Olivia Land, Oyinkansola Omotoso, Nathaniel Sneed, Alison Huynh and Kina Burris, Neil Sethi and Toan Do, Ximena Sanchez-Balderas, Brandon Gibson, Caitlyn Rivera, Sophia Zakirova and Ari Foster, Jamal Yassin, Raegan McCambry, Abi Bamidele and Leah Phillips, Isabella Waller, Isabelle Jean-Louis, Chloe Parkman, McKenzie Broughton, Kirsten Black, Muna Yassin, Savannah Browne, Devis Swims and Jackie Pimental-Martinez.
SECOND PLACE, SENIOR DIVISION:
William Nozart, Patrick Randall, Jehosheba Sylvestre, Diana Tapia-Ramos, Gabrielle Thomson, Jalen Tate, Tuesday Brooks, Aniyah Williams, Curtis Evans, Valeria Gonzalez, Ryan Lin, Jaiden Flagg, Joshua Stamp, Trinity Taggart and Sarah Newman, Atia Wali, Alicia Henry, Zion Njenga, Laila Bazelais, Mitchell Flater, Saige Chandler, London McAlister, Josiah Samuels, Cameron Jeffries, Charles Batson, Wai Aung, Orlaila Hunter, Benjamin Fisher, Patrick Fovie and Kevin Gray, Zachary Thomas, Vanessa Dingle, Jayla Edghill, Uriah Wilson, Joni Davis, Zahria Austin, Marqus Johnson.
THIRD PLACE, SENIOR DIVISION:
Michael Moss, Ommani Browner, Maizen Moore, Saya Brown, Charlotte Wright, David Buchanan, Courtney Booker, Michael Harris, Kaleb Dove, Jakaria Bell, Brianna Wood, Aniyah Cox, Rebekah Sistrat, Nyrian Oliver, Niv Patel, Kyla Gore, Deon Ray, Kody Washington, Ariana Bloomfield, Katelynn Maclin, Adam Aliyallah, Laila Coleman, Samaya Williams, Alexander Cazares, Jay Pham, Makayla Varnado, Aleah Gilmer, Rickie Reed, Helen Vilichay, Olivia Brumdage, Kendall Parker, Courtney Powell, Mario Manriquez and Zachary Kori, Lillian Jackson, Kaitlin Coakley.
FIRST PLACE, JUNIOR DIVISION (middle school):
Tristan Andrews and Jayden Hector, Shree Shinghaniya, Keighan Poff, Jameson Boyd, Ian Land, Aubree Stephens.
SECOND PLACE, JUNIOR DIVISION:
Malani Elliott and Treston Grant, Kaylee Christian, Aniyah Burgess and Ariana Soto Vaca, Juwairiya Tabassum, Ava Smith, Anaya Pawde, Bryce Fuller, Nancy Morales, Tristan Farmer, Emily Cuenca and Khole Little, Shaquan Wise and Nathanial Holley.
THIRD PLACE, JUNIOR DIVISION:
Carl Williams and Nathanial Shelton and John Krats, Dalyss Ponder, E’mauri Jones, Malakai Powell, Hayle Wood and Allyssa Gonzalez and Adelyn Keck, Valerie Morales, Malcom Clarke, Taylor Raines, Kyrie Williams.
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