2024 STEM Showcase Continues STEM Engagement for Middle Schoolers
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.
Author: Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro | Communications Specialist, Division of Community Affairs
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
Westlawn Middle School
91Students
10Schools
150Supportive family and community members
Ronan StakemI think it’s a really fun thing to do.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.”
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. They were excited each week to meet together and collaborate.
Said by Haley Abbott, whose daughter participated in STEM Showcase
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.
Special Awards
Jason Brewer and Kaiden Tolbert
Sipsey Valley Middle School
Nucor Innovation in STEM Engineering Award
Amelia Rumerio
Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle
Avantor/VWR Excellence in STEM Award
Henry Bearden, Neil Delaire and Aniketh Kalyan
Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools – Middle
Sanders Flight Training Center Discovery Flight Award
