NNPS students excel at Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair
Posted: March 30, 2026
Newport News Public Schools students participated in the Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair on March 21 at the Old Dominion University Webb Center.
Numerous students placed at the competition, with first place winners qualifying to advance to the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair on April 11 at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville, and Thermo Fisher Outstanding Project Award winners becoming eligible to compete in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge national competition.
2026 Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair Results
Junior General Categories
Biological Sciences
- 2nd place: Vivienne Baiter, Crittenden Middle School, Is X-Inactivation Predetermined by Orange Cat Allele Type or is it Random in Respect to Tortoiseshell Cats?
- 3rd place: Cornell Webster, B.T. Washington Middle School, Type of Light Effect on Plant Growth
Chemistry
- 1st place: Keegan Collar, B.T. Washington Middle School, Yeast in Elephant Toothpaste
- 2nd place: Clara Gilhuly, B. T. Washington Middle School, Growing Crystals
Materials Sciences
- 1st place: Ava Harper, Ella Fitzgerald Middle School, Homemade Water Filters
- 2nd place: Rhys Claytor, Gildersleeve Middle School, Biodegradable vs. Plastic Bags
Medical & Health Sciences
- 1st place: Emmanuel Rivera, Ella Fitzgerald Middle School, Sour Science: Exploring the Role of pH in Liquid Spherification
- 3rd place: Landon Coleman, Gildersleeve Middle School, The Effect of Swim Stroke on Heart Rate
Physics & Astronomy
- 2nd place: Eli Claus, Gildersleeve Middle School, Does Galileo's Theory of Projectile Motion Really Fly Under Pressure?
- 3rd place: Chloe' Walcott, Ella Fitzgerald Middle School, What's NOT Poppin?
Senior General Categories
Behavioral and Social Sciences
- 3rd place: Aaliyah Hamiel, Woodside High School, Food is Fuel
Microbiology
- 2nd place: Henry Bennett, Warwick High School, Effects of UV Damage to Cilia Function of Aquatic Life Forms
