CCSD Students Earn Top Honors at 2025 Elementary State Science Fair

Cherokee County School District elementary school students earned top honors at the Georgia College K-5 State Science Fair!

Thirteen CCSD students, after earning high honors at regional competition to advance, placed in the top three in their category at the statewide fair recently held at Georgia College & State University.  Congratulations to the honorees and their teachers and thank you to the School Board for its continued investment in STEM learning and research!

CCSD Grand Category State Winners

Waldermar Ortiz, Grade 5, Woodstock ES, teacher Kirsten Kern, Physics and Astronomy, “Paper Airplane Design: What Paper Airplane Design Flies the Furthest?”     

Grayson Parker, Grade 3, Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, teacher Mary Marble, Robotics & Intelligent Machines, “Speed vs. Accuracy” – also earned Excellence in Mathematics Research and Best in Math & Computational Sciences

Gowtham Ramprabu, Grade 5, Hickory Flat ES, teacher Karina Dean, Robotics & Intelligent Machines, “Jumping and Walking Robots -- Which is Better?” 

Natalie, right, pictured with Joshua York

Natalie Tetteh, Grade 2, Clark Creek ES STEM Academy, teacher Karen Garland, Chemistry, “Exploring Liquids to Keep Sliced Apples Fresh” – also Best in Class – Second Grade

CCSD First-Place State Winners

Kiley Bekebrede, Grade 4, Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy, teacher Leah Spradlin, Microbiology, “What Hand Sanitizer Cleans Better?”

Claire Columbus, Grade 3, Holly Springs ES STEM Academy, teacher Chelsea Chandler, Plant Sciences, “What Type of Water Grows Hydroponic Plants Best?”

CCSD Second-Place State Winners

Granger Bales, Grade 2, Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, teacher Mary Marble, Physics and Astronomy, “Ball Kickaroo”

Noah Carpenter, Phoebe Carpenter, and Ruby Carpenter, Grade 5, Johnston ES, teacher Susan Turco, Chemistry, “Testing Toothpaste”

Kylie Shakespeare, Grade 4, Hickory Flat ES, teacher Karina Dean, Chemistry, “Invisible Ink”

Joshua, left, pictured with Natalie Tetteh

Joshua York, Grade 2, Clark Creek ES STEM Academy, teacher Karen Garland, Biochemistry, “How to Bring Fresh Apples to School”

Aspiring Chemist Award
Harper Henriques, Grade 4, Woodstock ES, teacher Kirsten Kern, Chemistry, “Bubble Battle: Which Acidic Liquid Reacts the Best?”      

Cobb EMC and Gas South generously sponsored the state fair registrations for all of CCSD’s participating students.  

The Cherokee County School Board and Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis will the state fair winners at an upcoming school board meeting.

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