65th Annual St. Mary’s County Science And Engineering Fair Showcases Bright Young Minds

CALIFORNIA, Md. – The 65th annual St. Mary’s County Science and Engineering Fair took place on Friday, January 17, 2025, at the Southern Maryland Autonomous Research and Technology (SMART) Building, located on the campus of the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM) in California, Maryland. This marked the first time the event was hosted at this innovative venue.

With 135 projects submitted and 142 student competitors, the fair was a resounding success, highlighting the creativity and intellect of students across St. Mary’s County. In the Senior Category, the Grand Award winners were Collin Haycraft with his project Sky High Service (S.H.S) and the team of Rishi Sheth and Stephen Krasznay with their project MiniOpto. In the Junior Category, Thomas Fucito earned the Grand Award for his project Vortex Generator Effects on Critical AOA, while Tea Combs received the Grand Award for her project Fuzzy Companion.

All first and second-place winners are invited to attend the Prince George’s (PG) Regional Fair. Senior competitors who earn a Grand Award at the regional level will advance to the prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair, scheduled to take place this year in Columbus, Ohio.

The event, attended by community members, educators, and families, celebrated the innovation and dedication of these young scientists.