Socorro Independent School District

Some 470 students in grades 3 through 5 from 30 schools across the Socorro Independent School District competed in the district elementary science fair Nov. 5 at Socorro High School. John Drugan School took the top prize winning the campus sweepstakes.

Participants in the elementary science fair focused projects on exploration, discovery, and innovation. The students qualified for the district fair based on projects in the following categories: physical science, life science, earth and environmental science, engineering, behavioral and social science, and math (5th grade only).

The students first presented their projects in their classrooms and then at their campus science fairs. The first-place winners at each campus fair in each category advanced to the district science fair.

Alexia Ibarra, a third-grade student at Sierra Vista STEAM Academy, focused her project research on discovery and innovation with a look at infrastructure and what causes a city to flood.

“I had a lot of fun researching this,” Ibarra said. “I think everyone that’s here is as excited as I am because we all worked so hard to get here.”

The elementary science fair was an exciting event that encouraged students to think like young scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technologists.

Hector Rodela, a third-grade Cactus Trials Elementary School student, researched how water affects plant growth.

“It’s very exciting for me to be here today presenting, and I’m happy that I am able to be here to present my results,” Rodela said.

Participating in the science fair was an opportunity for SISD students to apply the experimental design to the concepts they are learning in class while also using their skills from other subjects, such as math, reading and writing, to complete their research.

“This is very important because as they prepare to enter high school, they start looking at their career pathways, and our high schools offer a variety of great opportunities,” said Monica Velarde, instructional officer for elementary science. “The students have worked very hard, and we are very proud of all of them.”

2023 SISD Elementary Science Fair winners

Campus Sweepstakes Winner

John Drugan School

3rd Grade Winners

Behavioral and Social Science

1^st Place - Aryana Martinez, Sierra Vista STEAM Academy

2^nd Place - Sofia Nungaray, Paso Del Norte Fine Arts Academy

3^rd Place - Derek Gutierrez, O’Shea Keleher Whole Child Academy

Earth and Environmental Science

1^st Place - Abner Alonso, Dr. Sue A. Shook Elementary School

2^nd Place - Isabella Yamaguchi, Escontrias STEAM Academy

3rd Place - Alexa Ibarra, Sierra Vista STEAM Academy

Engineering

1^st Place - Santiago Amaya, Col. Ben Narbuth Elementary School

2^nd Place - Leonardo Gutierrez, Desert Wind School

3^rd Place - Brielle Wilf, Sgt. Jose F. Carrasco Elementary School

Life Science

1^st Place - Aneliese Remer, Lujan-Chavez Elementary School

2^nd Place - David Proa, Loma Verde Elementary School

3^rd Place - Christian Estrada, Col. Ben Narbuth Elementary

Physical Science

1^st Place - Oliver Galindo, John Drugan School

2^nd Place - Ithaniel Campa, Helen Ball Elementary School

3^rd Place - Angel Hobbs, Chester E. Jordan Elementary School

Sweepstakes Winner

Analiese Remes – Lujan-Chavez Elementary School

4th Grade Winners

Behavioral Science

1^st Place - Bryce Woodard, John Drugan School

2^nd Place - Genevieve Gonzalez, Ernesto Serna Fine Arts Academy

3^rd Place - John Seeling, Col. Ben Narbuth Elementary School

Earth and Environmental Science

1^st Place - Loany Rosado, James P. Butler Elementary School

2^nd Place - Jacob Carrillo, John Drugan School

3^rd Place - Diego Rosales, Vista Del Sol Enviromental Science Academy

Engineering

1^st Place - Noah Perezarce, Escontrias STEAM Academy

2^nd Place - Ian Garcia, Horizon Heights Elementary School

3^rd Place - Itzel Sigala, Mission Ridge Elementary School

Life Science

1^st Place - Sofia Chavez, John Drugan School

2^nd Place - Ariana Urrutia, Ernesto Serna Fine Arts Academy

3^rd Place - Mia Iniguez, Desert Wind School

Physical Science

1^st Place - Charlotte Duran, Sierra Vista STEAM Academy

2^nd Place - Austin Lin, John Drugan School

3^rd Place - Lelilani Duran, Escontrias STEAM Academy

Sweepstakes Winner

Sofia Chavez – John Drugan School

5th Grade Winners

Behavioral and Social Science

1^st Place - Ava Marquez, Cactus Trails Elementary School

2^nd Place - Arykah Brown, Paso Del Norte Fine Arts Academy

3^rd Place - Mia Quintana, Dr. Sue A. Shook Elementary School

Earth and Environmental Science

1^st Place - Ian Gallardo, Dr. Sue A. Shook Elementary School

2^nd Place - Chaynie Turner, Mission Ridge Elementary school

3^rd Place - Aiden Zapp, James P. Butler Elementary School

Engineering

1^st Place - Kento Takebuchi, Cactus Trials Elementary School

2^nd Place - Joshua Ortega, Paso Del Norte Fine Arts Academy

3^rd Place - Arianna Hansen, John Drugan School

Life Science

1^st Place - Nabor Quijas, John Drugan School

2^nd Place - Maria Dubios, Sgt. Jose F. Carrasco Elementary School

3^rd Place - Natalya Stermerman, James P. Butler Elementary School

Physical Science

1^st Place - Sophia Velarde, Loma Verde Elementary School

2^nd Place - Kindahl Thompson, John Drugan School

3^rd Place - Nathaniel Hull, Mission Ridge Elementary School

Mathematics

1^st Place - Sebastian Fraire-Macias, Purple Heart Elementary School

2^nd Place - Adel Malanche, John Drugan School

3^rd Place - Alexa Bustamante-Diaz, Chester E. Jordan Elementary School

Sweepstakes Winner

Ava Marquez – Cactus Trails Elementary School

District elementary science fair event photos