ScienceFairGirl.com

My Past Projects

Junior Year:

"Structural Stress in Roller Coaster Structure and How to Diminish It"

A study of what shaped roller coaster support would result in the least amount of structural strain: thin plate, square, or round.
- One of 12 projects chosen to represent my high school at regional fair
- Second Highest First Place at Regional Science Fair
- Certificate of Achievement from the United States Air Force
- Honors Certificate of Award from The American Psychological Association
- Third Place at State Science Fair
- Prentice Hall Book Award
- Finalist at Intel/ISEF

8th Grade:

"Do We All Fall Up?"

A study of how mass effects weightlessness, especially on a free-fall ride.
- First Place at School Fair
- Second Place at Regional Fair
- Highest First Place at State Science Fair
- Finalist at Discovery Young Scientist Challenge (DYSC)
- "Golden Sun" Nintendo Team Challenge
- The Learning Channel "Techno Challenge" Award
- SeaWorld Busch Gardens Team Award
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory Minor Planet (16112 Vitaris) named for achievement

7th Grade:

"G-Wiz!--The Science Behind the Fun"

A study of what type of drop (vertical, steep, or gradual) exhibits the highest amount of G-forces.
- Second at Regional Fair
- Honorable Mention at State Fair

6th Grade:

"It's All Downhill From Here"

A study of centrifugal force and "making the loop."
- Second Place at school fair
- Second Place at Diocesan* fair

About Me

I know you're asking "Why should I listen to you?” the answer: I've been there. I've competed, I've lost, and I’ve won.

I've competed successfully in two age categories with four different projects on the school, regional, state, national, and international levels. Science fairs have been so much a part of my life, that I have often been referred to as "that science fair girl", and the name has stuck with me.

I have now graduated from college with my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and my M.S. in Engineering Management, and although my competition days are behind me, I credit my science fair experiences with the success I’ve experienced. So many doors have been opened for me because of science fairs. I was accepted to my first choice college, awarded scholarships, and offered an internship as a freshman. None of this would have been possible without the knowledge I gained from my involvement in science fairs, and I want to give others the same opportunity.

My nearly six years of competition have taught me some tricks of the trade that would take you years to learn on your own, and I want to share that information with you. I started Science Fair Girl as part of my Girl Scout Gold Award project in high school. I mentored a group of local of middle school students from start to finish, then gathered my lesson plans and created the first website. We've come a long way since then, and there is many more exciting developments to come!