Franklin Academy is proud to announce that the 7th Annual Whatcom County Science and Engineering Fair (WCSEF) powered by Alcoa will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2019. Franklin Academy has hosted the county-wide event since 2013 and is pleased to add Alcoa as our new partner to the fair this year.

“Alcoa is excited to be a part of promoting science and engineering to our students in Whatcom County. The aluminum that we produce at our Intalco Works smelter in Ferndale is the result of Charles Martin Hall’s curiosity about material science. We want to support that curiosity in the next generation of scientists and engineers,” said Laura McKinney, NW Government Affairs and Public Relations Director for Alcoa. 

The regional fair provides an opportunity for all Whatcom County students in grades K-12 to participate in a juried science fair event. Students can submit a project in the fair just for fun or they can follow the Intel International Science Fair (ISEF) standards in preparation for participation in the 62nd Washington State Science and Engineering Fair being held in late March. Projects are judged by volunteers employed in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)-related fields.

All participants earn a medal and a T-shirt, with exciting prizes for the top three projects in each category and each age division. Projects are judged within their division and category, so there are lots of opportunities for new scientists to win their division. There are also prizes for the first, second, and third-place projects that score the highest across divisions and categories. 

Franklin Academy is proud to host this community event. As a STEM-focused school, Franklin advocates and encourages scientific inquiry and experiential learning opportunities. Hosting the Whatcom County Science Fair is a way that the school can give back to the community by providing an open field for young scientists from all around the county to come together and share the results of their projects and passions.

Registration is open now. Fees start at $15 for early bird registration. Submit your application and payment by February 22nd for the best rate. Students can enter a project in one of four categories: Experiment (traditional ISEF model), Engineering, Demonstration, or Collection. More information about the science fair, registration packets, volunteering as a judge, project ideas, and resources can be found at www.whatcomcountysciencefair.com.  Contact WCSEF coordinators directly at sciencefair@franklinacastg.wpengine.com to request an information packet for your school, to become a sponsor, or to have a business exhibit at this year’s event.