Rockdale's brightest young scientific minds and the research they conducted in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields were in the spotlight at the 2025 Rockdale Regional Science and Engineering Fair (RRSEF), held January 24, 2025, at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology. There are 45 Grand Champion students advancing to the state level, Georgia Science and Engineering Fair. Three were chosen to advance to international competitions and more to national competitions. A total of 190 students entered the RRSEF competition in 21 different categories, and were evaluated by more than 60 accomplished professionals as volunteer judges. For more information, visit http://rsef.webs.com.
GRAND CHAMPION, SENIOR DIVISION (high school projects advancing to state level Georgia Science and Engineering Fair):
Alex Rojas, Alicia Wright, Anthony Boyce, Ari Foster, Caitlin Alexander, Caitlyn Rivera, Dalena Nguyen, Damaris Ramos & Kenadi Sales, Dani Donald, David Buchanan, Gavin Reece, Hannah Beharry, Hannah Coley & Kayla Smith, Isabelle Jean-Louis, Jehosheba Sylvestre & Christopher Broaddus, Kaitlin Coakley, Machaiya Wilson & Kaavya Prabhakar, Magic Boyd & Kendall Parker, Marcus Salom Maceira, McKenzie Broughton, Michael Davis, Mitchell Flater, Nelaya Young, Olivia Land, Saige Chandler, Sophia Zakirova, Sydney Hammett, Tashfeen Shafi, Toan Do, Trenton Smith.
GRAND CHAMPION, JUNIOR DIVISION (middle school projects advancing to state level Georgia Science and Engineering Fair):
Kacey Washington, Daniela Tarancon Colmenares, Usman Gill, Spencer Fortson, Haseeb Ulhaq, Jewel Williams, Chloe Medbery & Emily Cuenca, Joshua Buchanan.
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair Award (projects advancing to international level):
Alex Rojas, Gavin Reece, Sydney Hammett.
NCSSS Student Conference Award (projects advancing to national competition):
McKenzie Broughton, Olivia Land, Sophia Zakirova.
Regeneron Biomedical Sciences Award:
Alex Rojas.
Lemelson Early Inventor Award (top middle school project):
Haseeb Ulhaq.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge Award (top middle school projects):
Daniela Tarancon Colmenares, Spencer Fortson, Haseeb Ulhaq, Jewel Williams.
SPECIALTY AWARDS:
American Psychological Association:
Trenton Smith.
Association for Women Geoscientists:
Kaitlin Coakley.
Kennedy Award:
Alex Rojas.
Lab Safety Award:
Lana Gutsylak, Barakat Ayanwale, Dani Donald, Demilade Ladipo, Olivia Brumdage, Shinnel Solomon.
NASA Earth System Science Award:
Hannah Coley & Kayla Smith.
NOAA Award:
Abigail Baker.
Perseverance Award:
Toan Do, Muna Yassin, Elisheba Sylvestre.
Ricoh Sustainable Development Award:
Sydney Hammett.
Society for In Vitro Biology Award:
Sofia Zakirova.
US Agency for International Development Award:
Wai Aung.
US Air Force Award:
Toan Do, Dalena Nguyen, Hannah Beharry, Michael Davis.
US Metric Association SI Metric Award:
Isabelle Jean-Louis.
Yale Science & Engineering Association Award:
Chance Sanford.
Jill Beach Award:
Barbara Smith.
Mary Mansell Award:
Shelley Seagraves.
FIRST PLACE, SENIOR DIVISION (high school):
Alex Rojas, Alicia Wright, Anthony Boyce, Ari Foster, Caitlin Alexander, Caitlyn Rivera, Connor Akin & Riley Wells, Dalena Nguyen, Damaris Ramos & Kenadi Sales, Dani Donald, David Buchanan, Gavin Reece, Hannah Beharry, Hannah Coley & Kayla Smith, Isabelle Jean-louis, Jehosheba Sylvestre & Christopher Broaddus, Kaitlin Coakley, Machaiya Wilson & Kaavya Prabhakar, Magic Boyd & Kendall Parker, Marcus Salom Maceira, McKenzie Broughton, Michael Davis, Mitchell Flater, Muna Yassin, Nelaya Young, Olivia Land, Saige Chandler, Samaya Williams & Brianna Dozier, Sophia Zakirova, Sydney Hammett, Tashfeen Shafi, Toan Do, Trenton Smith, Wai Aung.
SECOND PLACE, SENIOR DIVISION:
Abigail Baker, Abimifola Bamidele & Caleb Barnwell, Alaysia Jones & Nicole Dardy, Alexa Gomez-Ventura, Alexis Davis, Amiraeh East, Angelo Price, Calen Anderson & Sandrina Richardson, Curtis Evans, Demilade Ladipo, Elijah Johnson, Jalen Thornton, Kina Burris, Mya Rainge, Myles Fowler, My-vi Huynh, Nathaniel Sneed, Sara Newman, Savanna Giddens & Joanna Rhee, Zachary Thomas.
THIRD PLACE, SENIOR DIVISION:
Aidyn Woods, Aiyana Edwards, Bradyn Elder, Brennan Speights, Chance Sanford, Demi Wilson, Elissa Anderson & Katherine Trimaldi, Gabriella Cornwall, Harley Gipson, Joel Gayle, Khori McFarlane, Laila Coleman, Landia Copeland, London Pascal & Leah Phillips, Mason Reece, Michael Williamson, Nathan Thomson, Olivia Brumdage, Tuesday Brooks, Valeria Gonzalez.
FIRST PLACE, JUNIOR DIVISION (middle school):
Nancy Morals, Daniela Tarancon Colmenares, Lana Gutsulyak & Barakat, Aganwale, Haseeb Ulhaq, Jewel Williams, Joshua Buchanan, Kacey Washington, Chloe Medbery & Emily Cuenca, Shiloh Kinney, Spencer Fortson, Usman Gill.
SECOND PLACE, JUNIOR DIVISION:
Annalise Nozart, Jared Aquino, Aydan Johnson, Ailynn Armendariz & Wendy Hem, Elisheba Sylvestre, Laura-Michaels Simmons, Tristan Farmer
THIRD PLACE, JUNIOR DIVISION:
Grayson Harris, Jason Anderson, Kojiri Brown, Mitchell Murray, Sophie Gassett, Tabassum Juwairiya, Taurus Whitehead & Malani Elliot & Treston Grant.