The 2022 Big Springs Regional Science Fair brought together the best and brightest middle and high school students to share their scientific research, experimental designs, and exciting findings with a host of judges from a variety of professions. Students from Sumter County joined students from Marion County for this competition.

Enthusiastic young researchers from South Sumter Middle, South Sumter High, Wildwood Middle High and The Villages Charter School submitted 55 projects to the regional science fair. The projects were categorized into thirteen different categories ranging from behavioral to intelligent machines to engineering and animal science.

Of the 55 Sumter County projects competing at the 2022 Big Springs Regional Science Fair, 16 projects earned first place ribbons, 11 projects earned second place ribbons, and 10 projects earned third place ribbons.

To reach the next level of competition, the highest scoring projects were judged in a second round. Based on this finalist judging, a team was selected to participate in the Florida State Science and Engineering Fair held in Lakeland, Florida from March 29-31. The 2022 Florida State Science and Engineering Fair’s 34-project team includes 17 projects representing Sumter County.

At the Florida State Science and Engineering Fair, the following students from Sumter County will once again share their research, experimental designs, data, and findings: Wildwood Middle High School Junior Division – Julia Temple, Abigail Lacayo, Olivia McGill, Sophia McGill, Joseph Sage; Wildwood Middle High Senior Division – Jordan Riche, Arianna Zarazua-Benitez, Brandon Martinez, Leirin Bryd, Trinity Skaggs, Kadie Mariano, Aryonna McCoy; Villages Charter-Grace Froehle High School; from South Sumter-Cheyenne High School Shirley, Avory Andrei, Colby Rinberger, Emma Bogue, Johanna Heijkoop, Ty Kadur, Alynza McBride.

The Sumter County School District is affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair. Through affiliation, the district is eligible to participate in six projects to compete with more than 1,500 students from more than 50 countries. Representing Sumter County are: Cheyenne Shirley, Avory Andrei, Colby Rinberger, Johanna Heijkoop, Ty Kadur, Emma Bogue, Jordan Riche and Ariana Zarazua-Benitez.

“Once again Sumter students have proven they can compete with anyone. I assume that our students will also do very well nationally and internationally. We have amazing teachers and phenomenal students who consistently produce great results. We are all proud of them,” said school superintendent Rick Shirley.