Top Honors at Science and Engineering Fair 2026
Middle and Upper School Students are recognized for turning curiosity into meaningful scientific inquiry.
Congratulations to the 12 LJCDS students who earned 23 awards at the 72nd Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair, including a Grand Award Runner-Up distinction, five First Awards, and multiple special honors.
A total of 455 students in grades 6 through 12 from San Diego and Imperial County were invited to participate in the fair this year. Admission is highly selective, with projects reviewed by a quality and scientific review committee; historically, only about 40% of submissions are accepted. All students whose projects qualify for the fair are then evaluated for first-, second-, and third-place awards, as well as Special Awards presented by sponsoring organizations.
Previously called Professional Society Awards, Special Awards are sponsored by industry organizations, professional societies, businesses, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies. These awards recognize excellence across fields ranging from engineering and environmental science to health, innovation, and community impact, while connecting students with real-world opportunities aligned with an organization’s mission or values.
“The science fair is where students can really experience science,” shares Grade 6 Science Educator Matt Bessler, who also teaches the Middle School science and engineering fair after-school program. “It’s one thing to read about the scientific method, but it’s another thing entirely for a student to take a ‘what if’ question and turn it into a months-long investigation.
“By the time they get to the County Fair, you can see this incredible shift in their confidence. They’re standing by their presentation boards, talking to judges and professionals like real experts. That experience, which includes learning how to handle setbacks in the lab or explaining their data to a stranger, builds a kind of resilience you just can’t teach in a standard class period. It’s hands-on learning at its best.”
Kudos to Olivia “Ollie” Liu ’31, who earned one of the top honors, Grand Award Runner-Up, Junior Division Life Sciences, for her project, Soap, a Friend or Foe of Skin Bacteria? Read what Ollie shares in the La Jolla Light article.
During the San Diego Psychological Association’s awards celebration in April, Vivienne Fullerton ’28 received a medal and certificate for earning the organization’s Special Award. As a result of her research, she was invited to intern this summer alongside university students in a local neuroscience lab, where she’ll explore how the brain processes time and space in memory and study the biology underlying memory, behavior, and cognition using rodents as a model system.
During the San Diego Psychological Association’s awards celebration in April, Vivienne Fullerton ’28 received a medal and certificate for earning the organization’s Special Award. As a result of her research, she was invited to intern this summer alongside university students in a local neuroscience lab, where she’ll explore how the brain processes time and space in memory and study the biology underlying memory, behavior, and cognition using rodents as a model system.
In addition to Mr. Bessler, students were supported by Upper School Science Educators Renna Wolfe, Ph.D., and Chris Uyeda. Their mentorship guided students as they developed, tested, and refined their projects throughout the year, fostering students’ growth as researchers while deepening their confidence and scientific thinking.
Seven of nine Middle School students in the after-school program and five Upper School students were recognized and are listed below, alphabetically within each division, with their project titles and placements. If applicable, Special Awards are also listed. The GSDSEF awards ceremony was held at The Magnolia in El Cajon on March 19, 2026.
Middle School Award Winners
JUNIOR DIVISION
Elizaveta Avdienko ’31
Physics and Astronomy Project: Static Electricity and Dust
Physics and Astronomy Project: Static Electricity and Dust
- First Award, GSDSEF
Amanda Bi ’31
Engineering: Energy, Materials, and Transport Project: Balancing Visual Comfort and Energy Efficiency in Solar Panel Configuration
Engineering: Energy, Materials, and Transport Project: Balancing Visual Comfort and Energy Efficiency in Solar Panel Configuration
- First Award, GSDSEF
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA)
- General Atomics Sciences Education Foundation
Rylie Freitas ’30
Biomedical/Health Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering Project: Analyzing BRBNS Cases to Identify Patterns in Lesions
Biomedical/Health Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering Project: Analyzing BRBNS Cases to Identify Patterns in Lesions
- Second Award, GSDSEF
- San Diego Section, American Chemical Society
Anchen Huang ’32
Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, and Robotics Project: Robot dirt rakers
Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, and Robotics Project: Robot dirt rakers
- Second Award, GSDSEF
Olivia “Ollie” Liu ’31
Microbiology Project: Soap, a Friend or Foe of Skin Bacteria?
Microbiology Project: Soap, a Friend or Foe of Skin Bacteria?
- Grand Award Runner-Up, Junior Division Life Sciences, GSDSEF
- First Award, GSDSEF
- Association for Women in Science
- CaSEF Qualified
- Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC)
Emma Piven ’32
Behavioral and Social Sciences Project: The Effect of Light Exercise on Math Scores for 6th Graders
Behavioral and Social Sciences Project: The Effect of Light Exercise on Math Scores for 6th Graders
- Second Award, GSDSEF
Sareena Toor ’30
Engineering: Energy, Materials, and Transport Project: Removable Cleats
Engineering: Energy, Materials, and Transport Project: Removable Cleats
- Second Award, GSDSEF
Upper School Award Winners
SENIOR DIVISION
Vivienne Fullerton ’28
Behavioral and Social Sciences Project: Activating Cognitive and Emotional Pathways: How Multisensory Creative Engagements Influence Memory and Well-Being in Older Adults
Behavioral and Social Sciences Project: Activating Cognitive and Emotional Pathways: How Multisensory Creative Engagements Influence Memory and Well-Being in Older Adults
- Second Award, GSDSEF
- San Diego Psychological Association
Melody Jia ’29
Earth and Environmental Sciences Project: Pilot Study on PFAS Presence in the Tijuana River Valley
Earth and Environmental Sciences Project: Pilot Study on PFAS Presence in the Tijuana River Valley
- Second Award, GSDSEF
- Nature Needs SD
Amélie Roy ’29
Plant Sciences Project: Electroculture Effects on Soil Properties and Root Interactions with Microplastics
Plant Sciences Project: Electroculture Effects on Soil Properties and Root Interactions with Microplastics
- First Award, GSDSEF
Harper Tilley ’28
Plant Sciences Project: Effects of Hydrogel Type and Fertilizer Type on Cherry Belle Radish Growth in Simulated Martian Regolith
- First Award, GSDSEF
- Association for Women in Science
Hangsu Zhang ’27
Computer Science and Systems Software Project: A Two-Stage Optimization Framework for Enhancing Mathematical Reasoning in Large Language Models via SFT and GRPO
Computer Science and Systems Software Project: A Two-Stage Optimization Framework for Enhancing Mathematical Reasoning in Large Language Models via SFT and GRPO
- Second Award, GSDSEF
