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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: 
Jennifer Furlong 
Director of Marketing and Communications 
South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics 
Phone: (843) 383-3900 ext. 3944 
Email: jfurlong@governors.school 

 

GSSM Hosts 2025 Sand Hills Regional Science & Engineering Fair 

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (March 27, 2025) — The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) hosted the 2025 Sand Hills Regional Science & Engineering Fair on Friday, March 14. Award winners were announced on Sunday, March 23. More than 60 students in grades 5–12 from eight schools representing Darlington, Horry and Lee counties presented 40 innovative projects across a wide range of scientific fields. 

“We greatly enjoyed the process of research and were excited to get to share our work outside of the classroom. Interacting with experienced professionals as judges — getting their feedback and having them push our understanding of our project — was an opportunity we could not pass up,” said Audrey Howard and Grace Zhang, seniors at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics and co-recipients of the 2025 Regeneron ISEF Finalist Award. 

All participating students received a Certificate of Merit from the South Carolina Academy of Science.

Junior Division (Grades 5–8) — Category Winners 

• Biological Sciences: Tyler Hagan (Palmetto Academy for Learning and Success [PALS]) 

• Biochemistry: Isabella Bargerstock and Hali Ketchum (PALS) 

• Chemistry: Sophia Copeland (Thomas Hart Academy) 

• Engineering & Environmental Sciences: Mila Sobering (PALS) 

• Physics & Astronomy: Louis Pellegrino (Pellegrino Homeschool) 

Special Awards 

• Rotary Club of Hartsville Book Award: Miriam Powell (Thomas Hart Academy), for the project that best addressed one of Rotary International’s seven Areas of Focus 

• GSSM Outreach Opportunity Scholarship: Louis Pellegrino (Pellegrino Homeschool), for the overall best Junior Division project, “Kinetic Koaster.” The scholarship provides a week of GSSM’s 2025 GoSciTech summer STEM camp. 

Senior Division (Grades 9–12) — Regeneron ISEF Finalists & Overall Winners 

• Audrey Howard (GSSM ’25) and Grace Zhang (GSSM ’25): 

Received the Regeneron Biomedical Science Award and were selected as 2025 Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) Finalists. 

Their project, “Studying the Effects of Fluid Shear Stress and Deformation on Metastatic Breast Cancer with Microfluidic Devices,” was conducted in the lab of Dr. Adam Melvin at Clemson University through the GSSM–Clemson University Honors College Summer Program for Research Interns. 

Additional Senior Division Awards 

• United States Air Force Award: Justin Aguilar (Lee Central High School), Jimmy Johnson (LCHS), Jharna Patel (GSSM ’26), and Michael Taylor (LCHS) 

• United States Metric Association Award: Jharna Patel (GSSM ’26) 

• Yale Science & Engineering Association Award: Jharna Patel (GSSM ’26) 

Madisen Oberg (GSSM ’25) received all the following awards: 

• Association of Women Geoscientists Student Award for Geoscience Excellence 

• NASA Earth System Science Award 

• NOAA Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award 

• Ricoh Sustainable Development Award 

• Stockholm Junior Water Prize Award 

The Sand Hills Regional Science & Engineering Fair Senior Division is affiliated with the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF), giving selected finalists the opportunity to present their projects on the international stage. The 2025 ISEF will take place May 10–16 in Columbus, Ohio. 

“It is a great joy to be able to provide these young minds with a place that encourages them to ask questions, engage in the process of discovery and innovation, and to have them share what they have learned,” said Dr. Josh Witten, fair director and GSSM director of research and inquiry. “We look forward to continuing to expand the opportunity to participate in the science and engineering fair for educators and students.” 

Looking Ahead 

The 2026 Sand Hills Regional Science & Engineering Fair is scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026. The fair will welcome student projects in grades 5–12 from schools in Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Horry, Lee, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg counties. 

About the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics 
The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) is a nationally ranked top 10 public high school that exists to bring world-class STEM education to students across the state. Founded in 1988 by Gov. Carroll Campbell, GSSM is a state resource that offers a variety of programs including an intensive two-year residential high school, a challenging virtual engineering program, summer camps and in-school experiences for students in third through 12th grades. At GSSM, challenge is viewed as a gateway to opportunity. Learn more about how we help students realize their full potential by visiting www.scgssm.org. 

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