The WSSEF is proud to recognize a number of students who
participate in the fair. Individual students or teams compete
with other students or teams within their same division and
category. Additionally, numerous organizations, corporations,
government entities and individuals present Special Awards to
deserving students. Individual students and teams also earn
overall school points for special school recognition.
Junior Division Awards:
The Junior Division is open to individual students
and teams grades 1-8. The categories are:
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Team Project
Valuation:
Students present their project to a team of judges. Project
presentation should include a display, journal illustrating
the results of research, hypothesis and rationale, procedures
used, data collection, analysis and conclusions. Included
should be an abstract containing 250 words or less explaining
the research's purpose, procedures, data, and conclusions.
The student will be judged on the entire presentation. The students
may receive one of the following awards for their project
presentation.
First Place: Blue ribbon and trophy for project
Second Place: Red ribbon for project
Third Place: White ribbon for project
Honorable Mention: Green ribbon for project
Best of Category:
The single best project in each category will receive
Best of Category award for that category.
Senior Division Awards:
The Senior Division is open to students in grades 9
through 12. All projects within a category will be judged
together for any student in grades 9 through 12. The
categories are:
Behavioral and Social Sciences
Biochemistry
Botany
Chemistry
Computer Science
Earth Science
Engineering
Environmental Science
Mathematics
Medicine and Health
Microbiology
Physics
Space Science
Zoology
Senior Team Projects
Valuation:
Students present their project to a team of judges.
Project presentation should include a display, journal
illustrating the results of research, hypothesis and
rationale, procedures used, data collection, analysis and
conclusions. Included should be an abstract containing 250
words or less explaining the research's purpose, procedures,
data, and conclusions. The student will be judged on the
entire presentation. The students may receive one of the following
awards for their project presentation:
First Place: Blue ribbon and trophy for
project
Second Place: Red ribbon for project
Third Place: White ribbon for project
Honorable Mention: Green ribbon for
project
Washington State Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards:
The top three individual projects from Grades 9
through 12 will receive these awards. The Gold and Silver
Medalists will represent Washington State at the ISEF. The
Bronze will represent Washington State at the ISEF if either
the Gold or Silver Medalists cannot.
Special Organizational and Commercial Awards:
Numerous professional and technical organizations,
corporations, government entities, and individuals sponsor
special awards for students 1 through 12. The judging
criteria for these awards, and the awards themselves, vary
widely. Past awards have included college tuition scholarships,
scientific equipment, plaques, books, subscriptions, T-shirts,
as well as cash. These awards comprise a major portion of the
awards presented at the WSSEF.
School Awards:
The following awards are provided in partnership with
our major sponsors.
Washington State Science and Engineering Fair
Excellence in Scientific and Engineering Achievement.
Four traveling awards are awarded each year.
These awards are based on points credited to the schools based
on the valuation awards earned by their students. Each student
participating in the fair earns points for their school as
follows:
One point is given for each qualified
entry that doesn't place
Two points are given for each Honorable
Mention
Three points are given for a Third Place
Four points for a Second Place
Five points for a First Place
Total points awarded per school are divided
by the number of entries per school.
Special awards are not counted in the
High-Point School Awards.
A traveling trophy is presented to the school with the
most points in each of the following four levels:
Grades 1 through 3
Grades 4 through 6
Grades 7 through 8
Grades 9 through 12
Washington State Science School of the Year:
This traveling trophy is given to the school receiving
the most points for all grade levels entered and honors the
school for their dedication to the future of the students and
the advancement of science. The points are calculated in the
same manner as the high point school award.
C. J. Croswaite Washington State Science Student of the Year:
This award recognizes an exceptional student of
science. The student chosen to receive this award has
demonstrated ambition and ability beyond their peers in their
grade level.
People's Choice Award:
This award is presented to the best student presentation out grades 1
through 8 as chosen by there peers and attendants.
