Starkville High School 10th grader Katie Chung was awarded Best of Fair at the MS Region V Science & Engineering Fair.
Secondary students in the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District earned 30 awards at the 2025 Mississippi Region V Science Fair held at Mississippi State University at the end of February. Student projects earned top-3 finishes in 11 science categories and also received 10 special regional and national awards. Students in 6th through 12th grade earned spots at the Region V Fair through successfully placing at school-level fairs across the district. Projects utilized the scientific methods for research on each student's chosen topic in categories from Animal and Behavioral Sciences to Engineering and Robotics.
Starkville High School 10th grader Katie Chung was awarded Best of Fair for Region V for her project entitled "Mercury Extraction Using Lignin Foams" in the Earth and Environmental Science category. The project, which explored the use of sulfer-based lignin foam in the successful extraction of harmful mercury from contaminated water, tied for 1st place in the category and also received the Office of Naval Research Award, RICOH USA Inc. Award, US Agency for International Development Award, and the Global Environmental Impact Award. As Best of Fair, the project was also named an International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Finalist, and Chung will present it at both the state and international fairs.
SHS 9th grade student, Theo Ahn, tied for 1st place with Chung in the Earth and Environmental Science category with his project entitled "Tiny Breath, Big Impact: How Insect Respiration Shapes the Carbon Cycle." In addition, 10th grader, Amy Choi's project entitled "Investigating the Significant Electromagnetic Interference Emitted by Extremely Fast Power Semiconductor Switches in Modern Energy Systems" earned 2nd place in the Engineering Mechanics category and also received the U.S. Metric Association Award and the Excelling in Mathematics and/or Statistics Award.
Jaden Clare Everette, a 9th grader at SHS, also received a 1st place award in the Animal Science category. Her project, entitled "Screening for Genetic Markers Captured in DNA to Determine Scrapie Resistance in Ovis Aries", earned her a 5th place spot in the 63rd National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, an annual national-level science fair sponsored by the US Department of Defense to be held later this month.
Sixth grade students at Partnership Middle School earned an impressive 18 awards at the Region V Fair, including two special awards. Sage Scarpulla received the American Psychological Association award given to one project in the Behavioral and Social Science Category. In addition, Nicholas Sescu was recognized with the Nailed It! Award, given to students who used exemplary presentation skills in sharing their projects during the fair.
Visit a PHOTO GALLERY of students who earned Top-3/Special Awards + Best of Fair at MS Region V Science Fair
"Each of these students has showcased an impressive commitment to scientific inquiry, and I couldn’t be prouder of their achievements," said Sarah Langford, Starkville High School AP Biology, Zoology I & II and Base Pair Coordinating Instructor. "Every one of these young researchers pursued a question that sparked their curiosity, seeking out mentors to guide them along the way."
Participation in the school level science fair at Partnership Middle School was required for 6th grade students this year –– a first-time decision, but one that administrators and teachers saw as opening opportunities for students to challenge themselves.
"Because the science project was mandatory, many students who wouldn’t have normally volunteered had the opportunity to compete at the school level," said Mandy Scarpulla, Assistant Principal for 6th Grade at Partnership Middle School. "Many went on to compete at the Regional Fair. It was incredibly rewarding to see our students step outside their comfort zones and experience success."
Although teachers were hesitant at first to make the project required for all 6th graders, they quickly saw how the experiences pushed even the most diligent students to greater success. The school hopes to expand required participation in the science fair to both 6th and 7th grade for the next school year.
For high school students, participation in the science fair is voluntary, and students tend to explore topics that are of specific interest to them, which means they become more invested in the results of their research. Teachers also find that an individual student's strengths and learning styles come out through the process of researching, executing and presenting their projects. Whether that looks like working more independently, working with mentors or tapping into how science might impact other interests a student has, the common thread is seeing students grow in their ability to think critically. In describing the individual high school projects that earned regional awards this year, Langford praised the students' work ethic and innovative thinking.
"I am incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work that each of these students put into their projects," she said. "Amy showed remarkable perseverance by conducting the majority of her experiment independently, while Jaden Claire’s lifelong experience with sheep brought invaluable expertise to her research. Theo’s innovative approach to his project demonstrated both creativity and critical thinking, and Katie’s outstanding work earned her the Best of Fair award."
As a first-time science fair participant, Katie Chung says that the experience was appealing because of her interest in STEM careers after graduation. She saw it as part of her preparation for that future goal.
"I’ve been exploring what I want to pursue after graduation," Katie said. "The one thing for certain is that I want to go into STEM. I think the science fair is an excellent way to gain exposure to the scientific method, from designing an experiment to analyzing data, which is essential knowledge for STEM careers."
As a 10th grader, it may seem unusual for a student to be thinking so heavily about a future career, but the opportunities for study at Starkville High have allowed her to hone in on what that future may look like.
"In terms of academics, at SHS, I have been able to take classes that match my interests and challenge me to expand my knowledge," she said. And, the challenges aren't just in exploring classroom studies. Chung's science fair project allowed her to think more broadly about the impact her research findings could have on global issues that matter. They also helped her realize the need to develop effective communication skills to convey her results in a way that would allow them to have the most impact –– skills she feels can serve her in many different endeavors.
"I believe a project will only be as good as you can convey it to be," she said. "Having the knowledge is one thing, but the real challenge is being able to effectively communicate it to others. It is not just about what you know, but how you convey that knowledge so others can understand it and its value. I believe that this applies not just to science fair, but for everything in life. Science fair is an excellent way to develop and build on this skill."
Through the course of her project, Chung was able to call on teachers like Sarah Langford and mentors to help her plan and execute the research. Partnerships with Mississippi State became invaluable. She worked with a mentor, Dr. Qiangu Yan from USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL), to plan and perform the experimentation. Then, she was able to use equipment at the Institute for Imaging and Analytical Technologies (I2AT) at MSU during various stages of the analysis to reach her conclusions.
Katie says she looks forward to competing at the state and international science fairs with her Region V Best of Fair project, but working in this subject area has ignited her interest in further study. The idea of exploring cost-effective ways to address mercury contamination and extraction from global waters is appealing. She hopes to delve further, but for now, Katie is exploring broader interests at school and plugging into a well-rounded high school experience at SHS.
She credits her English II teacher, Ms. Sydney Warnock, as another staff member who has influenced her time at Starkville High. She says she looks up to her as a positive and caring influence both in the classroom and outside of it. This connection transcends science, and Katie relishes the opportunity to explore other extracurricular activities. She is currently involved in student council, the debate team and the swim team and says the activities keep her involved and growing.
"Each of these students is impressive in their excitement for science and the research process," said Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee. "I'm proud of our secondary students who won awards at the Region V Science Fair, and even more proud that they are involved in so many activities on their campuses. It speaks to their creativity and curious thinking as well as to the support our teachers are providing for students interested in a deeper dive into science studies and beyond."
FULL LIST OF JACKET 6th-12th GRADE REGION V SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS:
Animal Science
6th Grade
1st - Rowan Anderson
2nd - Sadie Spencer
3rd - Harriet Smith
High School
1st - Jaden Claire Everett
Behavioral and Social Sciences
6th Grade
1st - Hunter McKissack
2nd - Sage Scarpulla
3rd - Delilah Barker
Biochemistry
6th Grade
1st - Wyatt Langford
Earth and Environmental
6th Grade
3rd - Jaycee Jefferson
High School
1st (tie) - Theo Ahn
1st (tie) - Katie Chung
Engineering Mechanics
High School
2nd - Amy Choi (SHS)
Inorganic Chemistry
6th Grade
1st - Muaz Rahmen
Mathematics and Systems Software
6th Grade
1st - Vedvrudh Santhana Krishnan
2nd - Judah Brown
Microbiology
6th Grade
3rd - James Robertson
Physics and Astronomy
6th Grade
1st - Nicholas Sescu
2nd - Carter Swanigan
Plant Sciences
6th Grade
3rd - Aspen Hemmer
Robotics and Intelligent Machines
6th Grade
1st - Anaya Malik
SPECIAL AWARDS:
American Psychological Association Award - Sage Scarpulla
Office of Naval Research Award - Katie Chung
RICOH Award - Katie Chung
USAID Award - Katie Chung
US Metric Association Award - Amy Choi
Global Environmental Impact Award - Katie Chung
Excelling in Mathematics and/or Statistics Award - Amy Choi
Nailed it! Award - Nicholas Sescu
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium - Jaden Claire Everett
Best of Fair (ISEF Finalist) - Katie Chung