Coleman Taylor of Pink Hill Elementary School explains his science project on gear ratios to LCPS administrator Melissa Lynch during the district’s annual Science Showcase.

Fifty-three students who are the brains behind 43 elementary and middle school science projects are heading to the regional Science and Engineering Fair at East Carolina University after receiving input on their entries at the LCPS Science Showcase last week.

Students qualified for the Science Showcase, held Thursday night at Kinston Community Center, by earning honors at their school science fairs. The annual showcase is designed to give the young scientists experience explaining their projects and answering questions posed by adults – a situation similar to the judging they’ll face in Greenville.

“Our showcase allows students the opportunity to rehearse and receive feedback prior to going to ECU,” Dr. Amelia McLeod, the district’s director of middle school education and an organizer of the event, said. “It was a huge success. We are so appreciative of each school and the effort they put forth to send the top winners to the showcase.”

The regional science fair is scheduled for Feb. 29. LCPS elementary schools will be represented by 31 students and their 26 projects. Middle schools will send 22 students with 17 projects.

A first- or second-place finish in regional competition allows students to take their project to the North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair in March. Projects are entered and judged in categories: biological science, chemistry, earth and environmental science, physics and mathematics, engineering and technology.

Last year, LCPS was represented in state competition by seven students.

Following are students who qualified for regional competition, listed by school:

Elementary

Banks – Whitney Byrd, Katelynn Hardison, Kamryn Harrison, Kinsleigh Sutton

Contentnea-Savannah – Keagan Swah, Makenna Sowers, Asher Yarus

La Grange – Cameron Casey, Aiden Skoczylas, Braxton Skoczylas, Teague Tingen-Cribb

Moss Hill – Holden Barnett, Amari Jones, Ali Nguyen

Northeast – Mariah Morris, Tanijah Sutton

Northwest – Johnnique Hill, Hailey Brickhouse, Jeffrin Jinis Kalpadikkal, Joel Jinis Kalpadikkal, Jasaun Suggs

Pink Hill – Aiden Lawson, Coleman Taylor, Evelyn Garcia

Southeast – Angelina Godinez-Mendoza, Chanel Forbes, Nisere Brown, Shamia Freeman

Southwood – Briana Boyd, Wesley Vernon, Sylas Domer

Middle:

Contentnea-Savannah – Olivia Harrell, Eagan Ballard, Lesley Wiggins, Noah Burkett, Jayshanna Kittrell, Jasmine Blackwell, Janiyah Summers Moore, Jamie Flores, Natham Schrader

E.B. Frink – Marilyn Ortman, Landon Oliver, Andrew Boyette, Damian Bernsten, Caleb Jarman, Mason Sasser

Rochelle – Shamiah Hall, Cayla Dunk

Woodington – Hayden Tyndall, Jackson Harding, Sage Jones, Chloe Jones