153 Students Showcase Original Research at Maryland Fair

Students in St. Mary's County just proved that the future of science and engineering is in excellent hands.

The 66th annual St. Mary's County Science and Engineering Fair brought together 153 middle and high school students Friday to showcase original research projects spanning 22 different categories. The fair, held at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland campus, featured 138 projects from students in public, private, parochial, and home schools.

Diana Wyman earned the Senior Division Grand Award for her project exploring nature's solutions to microplastic pollution. Paul Savvas took home the other senior grand prize for InfantGuard, a project focused on infant safety.

In the junior division for grades six through eight, Andrew Ellerbe won for "Stick to the Beat" while Camille Winings earned top honors for her motion controlled robot rescue hand. Both projects demonstrated sophisticated problem solving well beyond their grade levels.

"To my knowledge, this is one of the largest fairs we have had in a long time and the most projects we have had in a while," said Annette Ragland, a judge and longtime event organizer. "The level of the projects this year has taken a step up."

Volunteer judges noted that many projects showed collegiate level work. Students didn't just complete experiments but developed real world skills in problem solving, iteration, and presentation.

Jason Hayes, vice president of the fair board, said student enthusiasm stood out this year. "They want to be here. They love science. They love engineering and they just want to show what great things they have come up with."

The Ripple Effect

The fair serves as more than just a competition. First and second place winners advance to the Prince George's Area Science Fair on March 20 and 21, giving students regional exposure for their work.

Senior division winners at the regional level may qualify for the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix this May. That competition brings together the world's brightest young scientific minds.

The nonprofit board coordinating the event includes volunteers from industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations who ensure students meet safety standards and follow proper scientific methods. School based coordinators work with the county board to align requirements across all competition levels.

Mark Ragland, board president, emphasized the quality of student work. "We even get judging comments saying this is the sort of work you would see at the collegiate level."

The fair's growth reflects increasing student interest in STEM fields and the county's commitment to supporting young researchers through every stage of their scientific journey.