Pink Hill Elementary School fourth-grader Coleman Taylor delivered a presentation about four-wheel and two-wheel drive to win the Ellis Planetarium Science Fair. Submitted photo

Coleman Taylor is showcasing his abilities one project at a time.

The Pink Hill Elementary fourth-grader recently won a science fair competition at Ellis Planetarium with a presentation called “All Jacked Up,” providing the differences between two-wheel and four-wheel drive. Taylor created model vehicles with K’Nex pieces and an electronic motor, getting his toy cars to move and carry weights while also proving his point about which mode was better for him.

“I feel like four-wheel drive is better because it’s faster and more efficient,” Taylor said. “It was easier for the car to move the weights with four-wheel drive compared to two.”

As a result of Taylor’s victory, there will be an award ceremony for him at the Ellis Planetarium April 2 at 4 p.m. Taylor’s project will be on display for a year and he also received a $200 prize.

"I remember sitting in bed and my mom got an email saying I had won," Taylor said. "My dad got home and they told me about it, and I was surprised. Then when they told me I had won $200, I was like 'Wow.'"

Taylor said his initial plan was to buy a whole lot of Legos, but some money went to another cause.

"My sister is diabetic and she has a walk on March 30," Taylor said. "I told her I'd give her some money for it."

Amy Taylor, Coleman’s mother, said her son loves the subject and is working toward getting stronger with presentations.

"He's always been interested in science," she said. "He's always wanted to learn how things work and loved to build. He's kind of shy, so I told him I wanted him to get a little more comfortable doing presentations," Taylor said. "His teacher, Brenda Griffin, had found out about the science fair at the Planetarium and when we applied, I told him this was more for practice, not knowing he was going to win."

This wasn’t the first event Taylor won recently, winning the #MichelinRocks national contest. Taylor painted a tractor on a rock and the masses voted — ultimately, he won in a landslide with Pink Hill Elementary winning $500.

"I entered the rock contest and I saw that if I won, we could make money for the school," Taylor said. "My mom and I painted the rock and once we were finished, we got people to vote for us. We had friends and family members vote, and even had people in Germany."

Pink Hill Elementary Principal Lee Anne Hardy had nothing but positive words to say about Taylor.

“He’s a very active and involved fourth-grader,” Hardy said. “He’s a great student, a friend to others, personable and just an all-around good kid.”

Taylor’s next endeavor is the N.C. Science and Engineering Fair, held at N.C. State on March 29-30. Taylor said he’s excited about the upcoming competition and will continue growing as a scientist no matter the outcome.

"If I win or not at State, I'm going to go home and build some other stuff," Taylor said.