WAYNESBORO, Pa. – Hundreds of young scientists filled Waynesboro Area Middle School for the 42nd Annual Franklin Science and Technology Fair, where 308 projects showcased student curiosity, creativity and problem-solving.
Participants represented Waynesboro Middle School, the Chambersburg middle schools, James Buchanan High School, Fairview and Mowery Elementary Schools, an online school, homeschool programs, Lurgan Elementary, Mercersburg, Saint Thomas, Falling Springs, Guilford Hills, Hamilton and Montessori schools.
The fair featured primary, intermediate, junior and senior divisions with projects in earth, physical and life sciences, as well as behavioral science, medicine, chemistry, computer science and partnered investigations. Beyond the competition, students enjoyed hands-on activities that included Buttonwood Nature Center’s microscope table, the Franklin County Creek Cleanup Project display, Wilson College outreach and a Weather Bus that let children deliver a mock TV forecast.
Tri State Astronomers set up telescopes outside the school so visitors could safely view the sun, adding a live astronomy lab to the day. Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library supported an aerospace challenge tied to its STEAM Express “Forces of Flight” program, extending the fair’s focus on real-world science and engineering.
Judges volunteered from the Greencastle-Antrim School District, Penn State Mont Alto, Shippensburg pre-service teachers, Wilson College, Buttonwood Nature Center, Friends of Michaux State Forest, the Franklin County Conservation District, Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library and JLG Industries Inc.
Local organizations that contributed financial or in-kind support included the Ruritan Club, WellSpan, Norland Pharmacy, American Legion, Lincoln Electronics, Newcomers Associates, Owls Club, JLG, Rausch and Tuscarora Wildlife.
In the primary division earth science category, Max Duesler of Mowery Elementary earned first place, followed by Mercersburg’s Rylee Ainsworth in second and third, with honorable mentions for Ceinwyn Ainsworth of Mercersburg and Elenor Park of Mowery. Physical science honors went to Nora Boone of Hamilton in first, Everleigh Rhoads of homeschool in second, Ceinwyn Ainsworth of Mercersburg in third and Nyomi Edmond of Montessori with an honorable mention.
In primary life science, Lily Poffenberger of Mercersburg took first, May and David Barra of Guilford Hills placed second and third, and honorable mentions went to Sawyer Giles of Saint Thomas and Kaylee Rhoads of homeschool. The partnered category was swept by Lurgan Elementary students, with Roen Keown in first, Evelyn Florell in second and Veronica Crider in third.
Intermediate partnered projects were led by Waynesboro Area Middle School students Arianna Snider and Charlee Sanders in first, Brooklyn Diem and Brooklyn Flasher in second, and Rylee Ainsworth in third, with honorable mentions for Audrey Hardic and Amelia Day and for Lily Fogle and Olivia Butler. In intermediate life science, WAMS student Elenor Saxon won first, followed by Mowery’s Carter Haluska and WAMS students Lincoln Miller and honorable mention Julie Bell of Falling Spring.
In intermediate earth science, Baylee Koons of WAMS placed first, Cara Scott-Pratt of Fairview Elementary second and WAMS student L.J. White third. Physical science awards went to WAMS student Hunter Smith in first, Addison Poffenberger of Mercersburg in second, Mick Barra of CAMS South in third and honorable mentions for WAMS students Abram Forberger and Riley Sweitzer.
In junior earth science, Thomas Barra of CAMS South captured first place, with WAMS student Kaylee Carbaugh second, Cerys Ainsworth of CCA third and honorable mentions to WAMS students Kenzie Shockey and Vera Cook. Physical science winners included Skyline Taracena of CAMS South in first, Osmond Tang of CAMS South in second, Carson Curtis of WAMS in third and honorable mentions for WAMS student Samuel Jones and CAMS South student Myra Pettas.
Junior life science honors went to WAMS student Anthanee Bowers in first, Elisa Rawlings of Montessori Academy in second and Charlotte Spielman of WAMS in third, with honorable mentions to Hannah Herbert of CAMS South and Anna Yeager of JBMS. In partnered projects, Bryson Fraley and Carter Hughes of WAMS took first, followed by WAMS team Emmersyn Bakner and Morgan Barnhart in second and CAMS South students Nolan Glass and Maximus Boyarski in third; honorable mentions recognized WAMS teams Khloe Starnes and Ryan Beck and Adelaide Clothier and Adelaide Cox, along with CAMS South partners Karsyn Gsell and Ananais S.C.
In the senior division, James Buchanan High School students swept the biology/microbiology category, with Amber Myers first, Natalie Fleming second and Alexis Martin third. JBHS students also led behavioral and social sciences, where Ethan Myers took first, Quwhn Johnson second and Abilene Mele third.
Samuel Roth of JBHS earned first in physics, while medicine and health services honors went to JBHS students Gracyn Diehl in first and Thomas Miller in second. In chemistry/biochemistry, JBHS students Jemma Repp, McKenna Seylar and Skylee Burget placed first through third, with an honorable mention for Cheyenne Eby.
Computer science and mathematics awards went to Lillian Smith of JBHS in first and Brynleigh McCracken of CAMS South in second. JLG Engineering special awards in the junior and senior divisions recognized Levi Ringenary and Arshaan Ahmad of WAMS, Jeremiah Lopez of CAMS South, Griffin Podolak and Ryan Emlet of JBMS, and WAMS students Madeleine Sutton and Colton Ogburn.
In the primary and intermediate divisions, JLG Engineering honored Rylee Ainsworth of Mercersburg and Natalie Lindsey of Saint Thomas. Penn State Mont Alto presented research awards to homeschool student Everleigh Rhoads and Mercersburg’s Addison Poffenberger in the younger grades and to Skyline Taracena and Lillian Smith at the junior and senior levels.
