Author: Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro | Communications Specialist, Division of Community Affairs
The Tuscaloosa community rallied to support middle schoolers’ scientific discoveries during the 2023 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Showcase on Jan. 28 at the Bryant Conference Center, during which the winning projects were also announced.
It is quite inspiring to see such imagination and such learning that happened today. We are going to continue to grow the program and want to be there to support students in their learning process.
Said by Andrea Ziegler, director of Community Education in the Division of Community Affairs’ Center for Community-Based Partnerships
Now in its third year, STEM Showcase originated as a collaborative science fair for middle schoolers in the Tuscaloosa area to become more involved with STEM.
We’re so excited about students actually doing science. That’s the whole thrust of AMSTI [The Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative]. And so, this is that application of all the learning that they’re doing, and they get to have a choice in what they research and go deep on into. It’s just so exciting for us to see science in action and the students being excited about science.
Said by Anna Daly, AMSTI-UA education specialist, who also serves on the planning committee for STEM Showcase
67 Middle Schoolers Representing the following schools participated in STEM Showcase
| Eastwood Middle School | Northridge Middle School | Sipsey Valley Middle School |
| The Capitol School | Tuscaloosa Academy | Tuscaloosa Magnet School – Middle |
To participate, 6th–8th graders submitted a project either individually or as a team that addressed the following STEM fields:
| Biology | Chemistry | Engineering |
| Environmental & Earth Sciences | Mathematics & Computer Science | Medicine & Health Science |
| Physical Sciences | Behavioral & Social Sciences | Energy & Transportation |
During the showcase, participating middle schoolers received mentoring from UA faculty, staff and students in STEM disciplines before presenting their final projects to judges. Volunteer judges were UA faculty, students, and STEM community members.
I really liked coming up with an idea on my own and then being able to execute it and then show it off to everyone.
Said by Rosie Zhang, winner of the medicine and health sciences category
Parents enjoyed seeing their child learn the scientific process firsthand.
What I liked most about this was that they did it on their own. My daughter did not ask me for any help with anything except for getting her supplies. For them to come up with something that was practical to our everyday lives, I thought that that was an awesome task for them.
Said by Jade Gibson
Winners may go on to participate in the Central Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Additionally, two special awards were given. Max Morgan, Rachel Shu and Alex Zhu received the Microchip Award in the area of engineering or applied science. Aniketh Kalyan received the Microchip Award in the area of computer or software engineering.
Category Winners and Runners-Up
Behavioral & Social Sciences
| Winner(s) | Runner-Up(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Silvia Hancock | Northridge Middle School | Fanuel Tsheyae | Tuscaloosa Magnet School – Middle |
| Ariq Isyraqi | Northridge Middle School |
Biology
| Winner(s) | |
|---|---|
| Markiian Shylenko | Northridge Middle School |
Chemistry
| Winner(s) | Runner-Up(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Bearden | Tuscaloosa Magnet School – Middle | Kielei Whitfield | Tuscaloosa Magnet School – Middle |
| Maddie Lee | Tuscaloosa Magnet School – Middle |
Energy & Transportation
| Winner(s) | Runner-Up(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Morgan | Northridge Middle School | Marichase Hamner | Sipsey Valley Middle School |
| Rachel Shu | Northridge Middle School | Caraleigh Hope | Sipsey Valley Middle School |
| Alex Zhu | Northridge Middle School | Victoria Walker | Sipsey Valley Middle School |
Engineering
| Winner(s) | Runner-Up(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lubaina Ahmed | Tuscaloosa Magnet School – Middle | Jacob Scofield | Tuscaloosa Magnet School – Middle |
Environmental & Earth Sciences
| Winner(s) | Runner-Up(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Shankman | Northridge Middle Schoo | la Melouk | Tuscaloosa Magnet School – Middle |
Mathematics & Computer Science
| Winner(s) | |
|---|---|
| Aeesha Mulani | Tuscaloosa Magnet School – Middle |
Medicine & Health Science
| Winner(s) | Runner-Up(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosie Zhang | Northridge Middle School | Laryn Word | Tuscaloosa Magnet School – Middle |
Physical Sciences
| Winner(s) | Runner-Up(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jayden Yoon | Northridge Middle School | Jireh Gibson | Eastwood Middle School |
| Jackson York | Northridge Middle School | Shaniyah Holifield | Eastwood Middle School |
| Ty’Leah Parks | Eastwood Middle School |