NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Students from Forsyth County Schools delivered an outstanding performance at the 9th Annual Georgia College State K–5 Science and Engineering Fair, at Milledgeville, GA on March 12th 2026, earning some of the competition’s highest honors and reinforcing the district’s growing strength in STEM education. The scale of the event was reflected in participation from multiple counties across Georgia, including Forsyth, Fulton, Newton, Bibb, Cherokee, Richmond, DeKalb, Baldwin, Chatham, Columbia, as well as Atlanta Public Schools, with several students from these regions earning top honors. The Fair saw record participation this year, with 344 registered projects and a total of 452 students participating from 101 schools across Georgia . The fair has witnessed remarkable growth since its inception in 2018. Over the years, it has steadily expanded into a statewide platform for young learners, reflecting increasing enthusiasm for STEM education and hands-on scientific exploration among elementary students.
Leading the state was Kathryn Tree of New Hope Elementary (Forsyth County), who won the Overall Grand Prize (Best of Show) for her project “O2 to be or O not 2 to be: How Temperature Changes Dissolved Oxygen,” while also earning recognition in the Grand Top 10% Category Awards. Widely regarded as the top recognition of the fair, the award highlights exceptional innovation and scientific thinking at an early age.
Forsyth County’s strong showing did not stop there. Aarya Dogra Sudan of Whitlow Elementary (Forsyth County) earned the Best of Category Award in Physics and Engineering (Elementary Division) along with a spot in the Top 10% Grand Category Awards . Her achievement highlights the growing strength of STEM education within the district. The school’s success was further strengthened by Pranavi M, who won Best of Kindergarten, Satya S, who earned Best of 1st Grade, and Natraj Pillai, who secured Best of 2nd Grade—all of whom also received recognition in the Grand Top 10% Category Awards, marking a remarkable sweep for Whitlow across multiple grade levels.
Mashburn Elementary (Forsyth County) also made a strong mark, with Shanaya Baheti and Gauravi Sangeetha Thilak earning Best of Class – 4th Grade, while Andrew Koepp secured Best of Health Sciences – Elementary Division, all of whom were also recognized in the Grand Top 10% Category Awards.
Coal Mountain Elementary (Forsyth County) was represented by Vihan Sankar, who earned Best of Earth and Environmental Sciences – Primary Division, along with a Grand Top 10% Award. Meanwhile, students from Shiloh Point Elementary School (Forsyth County) also delivered an outstanding performance, with Aarav Rajagopol winning Best of Physical Sciences – Primary Division and securing a place in the Grand Top 10%, while Lakshmi Saisha Samineni and Arihan Katkuri were awarded the Grand Prize – Best of Elementary Division, also earning Grand Top 10% recognition. Together, these achievements further highlighted the strong presence of Forsyth County schools at the competition.
Students at the competition were evaluated across a wide range of scientific disciplines, with awards presented in several major categories reflecting both depth and diversity of inquiry. These included Physical Sciences and Engineering, Chemical Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, and Mathematics and Computing Sciences, across both Primary and Elementary divisions. In addition to these category-based honors, students were also recognized through Best of Class awards by grade level (Kindergarten through 5th Grade), along with distinctions such as Best of Category, the prestigious Grand Top 10% Category Awards, and top honors including Grand Prize – Best of Elementary Division, Grand Prize – Best of Primary Division, and the Overall Grand Prize (Best of Show)—celebrating exceptional innovation, research, and scientific thinking among young participants.
The success of the State K–5 Science and Engineering Fair was made possible by the dedicated efforts of the Georgia College & State University Science Fair Planning Committee. The team was led by Dr. Catrena Lisse, Fair Director, along with Dr. John Trombley, Safety Review Committee Chairperson and Lead Safety Judge; Dr. Wathsala Medawala and Dr. Sujani Gamage, Volunteer Co-Chairs; and Dr. Peter Rosado, Judge Chair. Their collective leadership and commitment played a vital role in organizing and executing a smooth and impactful statewide event
According to Dr. Catrena Lisse, Director of the Science Education Center at Georgia College & State University, the fair is not just about competition but about nurturing curiosity at a young age. In an exclusive interaction with NRI Pulse, she emphasized, “The objective of the Georgia College State K–5 Science and Engineering Fair is to foster curiosity, creativity, and a love of scientific discovery among young learners.”
Reflecting on this year’s participants, Dr. Lisse noted that students explored a wide range of real-world problems, from engineering stronger bridges to experimenting with chemistry and environmental science. She highlighted that judges prioritize curiosity, originality, and a clear understanding of the scientific process over complexity. “The best projects are those where students investigate a question that truly matters to them and can explain what they learned in their own words,” she said .
As the fair continues to expand, its impact is becoming increasingly significant. What began in 2018 with just over 200 students has now grown into a statewide platform nurturing hundreds of young innovators each year .
Encouraging young participants, Dr. Lisse shared an inspiring message: “Believe in your ability to make a difference. Your ideas, curiosity, and creativity have the power to solve real problems and improve the world around you.”
With standout performances from students like Kathryn Tree, Aarya Dogra Sudan, Andrew Koepp, Vihan Sankar, Aarav Rajagopol, Lakshmi Saisha Samineni and Arihan Katkuri Forsyth County Schools once again demonstrated their commitment to academic excellence and innovation, reinforcing their position as a strong contributor to Georgia’s growing STEM landscape.
