2023 CCISD Science & Engineering Fair Results Announced at Annual Awards Night

Clear Creek ISD held the District’s Annual Science & Engineering Fair Awards Ceremony on January 25, 2023, at the CCISD Learner Support Center. The night is a celebration of the ingenuity and drive demonstrated by students who spend months developing an independent research project and who advance to the district competition from their campus contests.

Click here to view a photo gallery of the 2023 CCISD Science and Engineering Fair Awards Ceremony.

At the elementary level, 282 fourth and fifth graders advanced to the district fair with 66 earning an award at the 2023 District Science and Engineering Fair. Students compete in one of five project categories: Life Sciences, Consumer Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering and Physical Sciences. More than 300 secondary students and their projects advanced to the district fair.

“CCISD is fortunate to be geographically at the center of several thriving STEM industries,” said CCISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Engle. “From aerospace and medical to maritime and specialty chemical, the businesses and leaders who work in these industries are counting on you, as their future scientists and engineers, to be big thinkers and problem solvers. As your work is honored here tonight, you have proven that you are up to the challenge,” Engle said.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Engle also gratefully acknowledged longtime presenting sponsor of the fair, SAIC, as well as the many individuals, including hundreds of science fair judges and campus teachers, mentors and sponsors, who work to make the fair a success year after year.

The CCISD 2023 District Science Fair Grand Award Winners and Runners Up are featured below:

Click here to view the complete list of all elementary and secondary winners celebrated at the 2023 Science & Engineering Fair Ceremonies.

SAIC’s Gabe Garrett, vice president of civil space, human exploration and operations solutions, and Astronaut Mike Fincke, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Retired, commended the winners during remarks at the ceremonies.

“Once I was your age and dreamed of being an astronaut,” said Col. Fincke. “So, I decided back then that I would work hard to make that dream a reality. The ride is not without its setbacks, but you just have to persevere, always do your homework and never give up. Congratulations, and I hope all your dreams come true,” Fincke said.

Several students also received special recognition through the iYar Fine Arts Forum Sound Music Through Science – Universal Peace Through Music Award, which is presented to students with fine arts-related science projects. The following awards were presented to students who incorporated elements of visual or performing arts into their project hypothesis. The Shruti-Laya Award at the elementary level was presented to Goforth Elementary fifth grader Peter Pendergraft. The Pattu Rajagopalan Award at the junior level was presented to Brookside Intermediate student Caroline Kauffman, and Helen Jiang from Clear Brook High School earned the Sulochana Pattabhiraman Award at the senior level.

Clear Creek ISD recognizes students who participated in the fair for 12 years. The following students received this esteemed recognition: David Bidulescu, Alexander Colling, Ethan Flores, Roderick Lorente, Ryan Lorente, Audry Martin, Piper McCourt, Jacob Pitcher and Amelia Weiss. The following students received the Lucky 13 participation award for 13 consecutive years competing in the fair: Anuoluwapo Adebiyi, Oreoluwapo Adebiyi, Michael Buerstinghaus, Roshni Chikhliwala, Thomas Creedon, Brindy Grimm, Katherine Mark, Partha Naga, Melina Sallese and Tara Woeste.

The competition continues as 125 CCISD secondary projects are eligible to advance to the Science & Engineering Fair of Houston from February 10-11, 2023 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.