Elizabeth Stevens (or Liz), a talented eighth-grade student from Fortuna Middle School, has earned second place at this year's prestigious California Science and Engineering State Fair (CSEF). This remarkable achievement also earned her a nomination to the esteemed Thermo-Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC).
For the statewide competition, after she submitted her project online, Liz was scheduled for a two-hour Zoom interview with ten different judges at 10-minute intervals.
Liz's project stood out among numerous entries. Because of her outstanding performance, she is now among the elite young scientists who will compete for a place in the Top 300, an honor that includes a cash award and further recognition of her talents. The Top 300 will be announced on September 4.
Liz's journey does not stop here. Should she advance beyond the Top 300, she will be one of 30 finalists invited to participate in an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. This prestigious gathering, scheduled for later this year, will allow finalists to showcase their research, engage in advanced scientific and engineering activities, and compete for additional prizes, including the $25,000 Thermo-Fisher Scientific ASCEND Award.
Liz's success brings great pride to Fortuna Middle School and serves as an inspiration to her peers and the community. It is also noteworthy to mention that a sixth grader from Hydesville took home the first-place prize at the same competition, highlighting the exceptional young talent in our region.
We invite the community and media to join us in supporting Liz as she prepares for the next stages of the competition. For more details about the California Science and Engineering State Fair, please visit https://csef.usc.edu/.