The event drew attention to the commitment and creativity of the students, many of whom have been working on their projects since September. The fair included a mix of experienced seniors and enthusiastic ninth graders participating for the first time, with the latter group setting a record for the largest number of freshman participants in the fair’s history. This year’s fair also recognized the “Rookies of the Year,” a title given to the top three ninth-grade projects, acknowledging their potential for future success.

The top 12 teams from the fair will advance to the regional competition at WPI, with the possibility of moving on to the state fair at Gillette Stadium, and ultimately, the international science fair. The judges, many of whom were former participants, praised the sophistication and presentation skills of the students, particularly the first-place team who impressed with their project on glioblastoma treatments.