ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. — St. Mary’s County students earned top honors at the Prince George’s County Regional Science and Engineering Fair, capturing three Grand Awards and advancing one student to international competition.
Thirty students representing St. Mary’s County Public Schools competed March 21 against peers from Prince George’s, Charles and Calvert counties, with local students earning three of the six Grand Awards presented across both the Junior and Senior Divisions.
Two Grand Awards were awarded in the Junior Division, with Adriana Liwanag earning first place and Camille Winnings receiving a third-place Grand Award. In the Senior Division, Rishi Sheth earned a third-place Grand Award and was selected to represent the region at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, scheduled May 9–15 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Strong Showing At Regional Competition
John Ragland, treasurer for the St. Mary’s County Science and Engineering Fair Board, said the results reflect both student achievement and the strength of local STEM education programs.
“Earning three Grand Awards at regionals shows that St. Mary’s County students are performing at an exceptionally high level, even in a highly competitive environment,” Ragland said. “It reflects their strong academic preparation, creativity and critical thinking, as well as their dedication and hard work.”
Ragland said the performance also highlights the broader support network behind student research and innovation.
“It also speaks to the strength of the county’s schools, and the support students receive from parents, teachers and mentors,” Ragland said. “St. Mary’s County should be very proud of the accomplishments of our student competitors.”
Pathway To International Competition
Rishi Sheth’s advancement to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair marks one of the highest levels of student research competition available to middle and high school students worldwide.
Ragland said reaching the international stage is a significant milestone for both the student and the community.
“Advancing to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair is a remarkable achievement and is extremely significant, as it is the most prestigious science competition globally,” Ragland said. “Students who reach this level have already distinguished themselves through rigorous, high-quality research.”
Ragland added that the opportunity reflects both academic excellence and student perseverance.
“It highlights their critical thinking, perseverance and ability to contribute meaningfully to scientific inquiry,” Ragland said. “It is a point of great pride for our community to be represented on a global stage.”
Depth Of Awards Across Divisions
Beyond the Grand Awards, St. Mary’s County students earned recognition across multiple categories in both divisions.
In the Junior Division, students earned five first-place category awards, three second-place awards, two third-place awards and two honorable mentions. Overall, 12 of 17 junior participants received recognition.
Senior Division students secured four first-place awards, two second-place awards, two third-place awards and one honorable mention, with nine of 13 projects earning awards.
Students also received special awards, many of which included monetary prizes, with eight Junior Division students and five Senior Division students earning additional recognition.
The regional competition followed the 66th annual St. Mary’s County Science and Engineering Fair, where students qualified to advance. The strong showing at the Prince George’s County regional competition highlighted both the quality of student research and the continued growth of STEM education across St. Mary’s County.
With multiple top honors and one student advancing to international competition, St. Mary’s County students continued to demonstrate strong representation at higher levels of science and engineering competition.