by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communications Specialist, Division of Community Affairs

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Middle school students from the Tuscaloosa area demonstrated their creativity at the 2024 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Showcase on Feb. 3 at the Bryant Conference Center, during which the winning projects were also announced.

What began as a collaborative science fair for middle schoolers in Tuscaloosa has rapidly grown into one of the largest STEM opportunities in the community as this year’s STEM Showcase featured 91 students representing 10 schools: Brookwood Middle School, Eastwood Middle School, Echols Middle School, Northridge Middle School, Sipsey Valley Middle School, The Alberta School of Performing Arts, Tuscaloosa Academy, Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle, University Church Christian Academy and Westlawn Middle School.

“I think it’s a really fun thing to do,” said Ronan Stakem, a seventh grader who competed for his first time at STEM Showcase and presented a group project testing the durability of shoe grip.

This year’s Showcase was well-attended with more than 150 family and community members present to support the students.

“I liked how excited she was each day to go and check the progress of her crystal that she grew and all the insights that [she] gained from the project and also the teamwork with her friends,” said Haley Abbott, whose daughter participated in STEM Showcase. “They were excited each week to meet together and collaborate.”

To participate, sixth through eighth graders submitted a project either individually or as a team that addressed one of the following STEM fields: biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental and earth sciences, mathematics and computer science, medicine and health science, physical sciences, behavioral and social sciences, and energy and 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 thought the kids were so talented, and they were so creative,” said Genevieve Bangert, a UA student and STEM Showcase judge. “It was so fun seeing all of their different ideas and projects.”

“A lot of the kids this year are very creative with their research methods … and they really took a lot of time to get all of this laid out and make it so that everyone is accessible to this information, which I think is very interesting,” added Elizabeth Fritz-Kenz, a UA Student and STEM Showcase judge.

Winners may participate in the Central Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

This year, three special awards were also given. Jason Brewer and Kaiden Tolbert, of Sipsey Valley Middle School, received the Nucor Innovation in STEM Engineering Award. Amelia Rumerio, from Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle, won the Avantor/VWR Excellence in STEM Award. The Sanders Flight Training Center Discovery Flight Award went to Henry Bearden, Neil Delaire and Aniketh Kalyan, all from Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle; Hudson Banks from Tuscaloosa Academy earned honorable mention.

Category Winners and Runners-Up

Winners in behavioral and social sciences were Josie Harvey and Emma Stephens, both of Sipsey Valley Middle School. Runners-up were Lilla Beasley, Maggie Leigh Hamner and Sophie Porter, all of Sipsey Valley Middle School.

The winner in biology was Henry Brickman-Curzon of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle. Runners-up were Lane Hollingsworth, Houston Oswalt and William Roe, all from Tuscaloosa Academy.

The winner in chemistry was Aeesha Mulani of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle. The runner-up was Molly Doxey of University Church Christian Academy.

Winners in energy and transportation were Max Morgan, Rachel Shu and Alex Zhu, all of Northridge Middle School. Runners-up were Zane Coppock, Maximilian Reinmuth and Adam Rodriguez, all of Tuscaloosa Academy.

The winners in engineering were Henry Bearden, Neil Delaire and Aniketh Kalyan, all of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle. Runners-up were Jacob Scofield and Ashlynn Tolbert, both of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle.

The winners in environmental and earth sciences were Ava Hendrix, Sofia Huebner and Layla Waller, all of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle. The runner-up was Laryn Word of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle.

The winner in mathematics and computer science was Ela Melouk of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle.

Winners in medicine and health science were Maddie Lee and Lillie Reardon of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle. The runner-up was Ruthie Webber of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle.

The winner in physical sciences was Jayden Yoon of Northridge Middle School. The runner-up was Amelia Rumerio of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle.

Winners of Best in Show were Maddie Lee and Lillie Reardon, both of Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle.