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AMES, Iowa – From across the state, 636 junior and senior high school students competed for prizes, awards and scholarships during the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa on March 26-27.
Students exhibiting over 500 projects from over 77 schools and 38 counties competed for prizes, awards and scholarships. Winners are now listed on the SSTFI awards webpage.
The SSTFI has become a cornerstone event for the Iowa STEM community and is the premier STEM contest for students in grades 6-12. It aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards, encouraging participants to engage in scientific research through science and engineering methodologies. These standards, highlighted by the National Research Council, emphasize critical thinking and communication abilities essential for success in higher education and careers, preparing participants for their futures.
“We are extremely proud of the students who participated and the scientific research conducted,” said Alexa Groff, SSTFI director and Iowa 4-H STEM educational specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “We had 20 new schools participate this year and are excited to see the fair continue to grow in years to come.”
Being in 4-H has been important to Jagger Ferrie, a 4-H member from Hamilton County and SSTFI participant. “It helps you develop communication skills and really allows you to interact with people,” Ferrie said.
The 4-H member values being able to participate at the club and county level, communicating and giving projects, and making new friends and connections. “Being able to come to the State Science Fair, talking and presenting is so much easier because of the organization,” said Ferrie.
Collaborating with Iowa State University, students and educators were invited to participate in 16 educational outreach opportunities across campus. From visiting cutting-edge research labs to engaging with faculty in hands-on demonstrations, these opportunities gave participants a firsthand look at how science is applied at the collegiate and professional levels—sparking even more curiosity and inspiration.
Oliva Snider, a 4-H member and SSTFI participant from Kossuth County, visited the ISU Digital Ag Innovation Lab, where research manager Levi Powell discussed planter technology and row crop production automation technology development projects. While there, Snider made a career connection to the many different jobs in agriculture.
“There’s a lot of science in ag, so it’s really cool because there are so many different job opportunities. On the education tour, we were talking about planters, but it also involved a lot of physics and research on how to make the equipment work the most effectively,” Snider said.
“They talked about the planter and how they used to plant seeds through a tube where there was a fixed rate of speed that the seeds would be planted, but then they changed its iteration to have the seeds go through conveyer belts so it would match the speed of a tractor, meaning it was putting out seeds at a faster rate making it more efficient for farmers,” Snider noted.
To celebrate innovation and foster new connections, SSTFI introduced a new Category Reception, welcoming sponsors, partners and judges to meet the students behind Iowa’s most forward-thinking projects. This networking event helped connect young researchers with industry leaders and allowed sponsors to directly engage with the talent they’re helping support, leaving them excited for their future career paths.
In celebration of the fair’s 68th year, more than $285,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded, including scholarships from each Iowa Regent school. The top overall winners will attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio, May 11-16.
Senior high scholarships and awards
Top scholarships and awards for senior high were granted, including the following:
Receiving Grand Honorable Mentions were:
Junior high scholarships and awards
Top scholarships and awards for junior high were granted, including the following:
Receiving Grand Honorable Mentions were:
4-H special awards
Other special awards
Other notable awards were granted, including the following:
For more information, please visit the SSTFI website or contact your ISU Extension and Outreach county office.
–ISU Extension
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