SUMTER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

2680 West County Road 476

Bushnell, Florida  33513

352-793-2315

 

Press Release

 

Date:                     February 10, 2023

Contact:               Jessica Christian, K-12 Curriculum Supervisor

                               

 

Re:  2023 Big Springs Regional Science Fair

 

Last week, Sumter County’s best and brightest middle and high school students had the opportunity to showcase their scientific understanding and skills at the 2023 Big Springs Regional Science Fair. Students from South Sumter Middle, South Sumter High, Wildwood Middle High and The Villages Charter Schools submitted 50 projects in the science fair. Of the 50 Sumter County projects competing in the 2023 Big Springs Regional Science Fair, 19 projects earned first place ribbons, 13 projects earned second place ribbons, and 8 projects earned third place ribbons.

 

Big Springs Regional Science Fair will send the top 34 projects to compete in the State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida where they will compete against more than 900 finalists from around the state. The 2023 Florida State Science and Engineering Fair team includes 19 projects representing Sumter County! There were 10 projects from the senior division and 9 projects from the junior division. 

 

The following Sumter County students were selected as finalists for the Florida State Science and Engineering Fair where they will have the opportunity to share their ideas, increase their personal development in scientific and technological areas, and gain self-confidence in problem-solving skills. 

 

• Wildwood Middle High School:                                                                                              

Lily Kosa, Abigail Lacayo, Jaycee Woody, Gerardo Cardoso, Sophia Stephens,Jose Carvajal-Beltran, Brandon Martinez, Raquel Rowland, Narlecia Brown, Kadie Mariano, Jaden Brooks, Delbie Zayas, Jesely Otero

 

• South Sumter High School:

Alynza McBride, Kayla Bui

 

• The Villages Charter Middle School:                                                                                                  

Brady Kline, Emily Sapp, Sarah Colley, Nolan Kennedy

 

• The Villages Charter High School:

Grace Froehle, Hannah Kennedy

Sumter County School District also affiliates with the International Science and Engineering Fair. Through the affiliation, the district is eligible to enter five projects to compete with more than 1500 students from over 50 countries.

Representing Sumter County are: Jose Carvajal-Beltran, Kadie Mariano, Brandon Martinez, Raquel Rowland, Hannah Kennedy and Alynza McBride.  

 

Please congratulate all State and International Science Fair participations. 

 

The guidance, encouragement, and coaching of the adult sponsors at each school as well as parents must also be recognized. School coordinators this year include Anna Teston and Dawn Moses of South Sumter Middle School, Stephanie Yarbrough of South Sumter High School, Monica Vinas and Lauri Siverson of The Villages Charter School and Emily Keeler of Wildwood Middle High School. The support from numerous individuals, organizations, volunteers and businesses is greatly appreciated. We would also like to thank our sponsors which include Connie Mahan Real Estate Group, The Wildwood Rotary Club, Sun Coast Federal Credit Union, Wildwood Tire and Sumter Tire.