The scale was immediately striking. There were over 1,000 student competitors, from elementary through high school, filling the convention center with projects across every field you could imagine:
- Engineering prototypes
- Environmental research
- AI and machine learning
- Medical and health studies
- Chemistry experiments
- Data-driven investigations
Everywhere you turned, students were explaining their thinking, defending their conclusions, and sharing something they had built, tested, or discovered.
It was so inspiring.
Before we even made it inside, the energy was already high. A marching band played, cheerleaders lined the entrance, and a giant brain mascot greeted students as they walked in. It felt less like a quiet academic event and more like a celebration of ideas.
Representing Lighthouse Prep
We were incredibly proud of our students who represented Lighthouse Prep this year: Keiko Bates-Smith and Sky-Taylor Beckford.
They stood confidently beside their projects, walked judges through their research, and answered questions with clarity and thoughtfulness. That alone is a huge accomplishment at this level.
And we’re excited to share that:
Both Lighthouse Prep students received Honorable Mention awards.
That recognition matters—but what mattered even more was how they showed up: prepared, curious, and ready to engage.
Regional fairs are not easy. They require persistence, communication, and the ability to think on your feet. Our students rose to the challenge.
What Stood Out
Walking through hundreds of projects was a bit intimidating at first. With the polished boards, advanced terminology, and detailed research, it was easy to wonder how our students would stack up.
But then I slowed down.
Instead of getting caught up in the language or presentation, I started looking at each project more simply: What is this student actually doing?
And once I looked at it that way, patterns started to emerge. Many of the projects fell into a few core categories based on what the student actually did:
- Built something (engineering/design)
- Built something using code
- Used AI or machine learning
- Ran chemistry experiments
- Grew plants under different conditions
- Studied insects or small organisms
- Investigated microorganisms
- Tested consumer products
- Designed environmental solutions
- Explored sports or human performance
This was a helpful reminder: a strong science fair project isn’t about picking the “perfect topic”—it’s about choosing a type of work and doing it well.
Why This Experience Matters
There’s something different about presenting your work in a room like this.
Students aren’t just completing an assignment—they’re:
- Standing beside their ideas
- Explaining their thinking to unfamiliar adults
- Comparing their work to others at a high level
- Seeing what’s possible when you go deeper
It raises the bar in a way that’s hard to replicate in a classroom alone.
And just as importantly, it gives students a glimpse of themselves as scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers.
Looking Ahead
We’re already thinking about next year.
This experience gave us a clearer picture of how to prepare earlier, refine ideas more intentionally, and help students build projects that are not just interesting—but truly strong.
We’ll be sharing more resources soon, including:
- How to choose a great science fair topic
- Examples of strong project types
- Tools for planning and tracking experiments
For now, we’re celebrating a big milestone.
From our classroom… to a convention center filled with over 1,000 students… to earning recognition at the regional level.
We’re proud. And we’re just getting started.