Congratulations to all 2021 Southern Appalachian Science & Engineering Fair (SASEF) award winners! Browse the categories below to see all 2021 SASEF Awards. Due to SASEF being held virtually for the second year in a row, award amounts in 2021 were higher than in previous years. Also below is the full virtual awards ceremony in its entirety. Thanks to all the brilliant students, teachers, and judges that participated this year!
| Place | Student | Teacher | School | Project | Prize |
| 1st | Ridhima Singh | Matthew Milligan | Farragut High School | Spatial Pattern and Correlation Analysis to Understand the Relationship of City Structure on the Urban Heat Island (UHI) Intensity Across the US | $1,500 |
| 2nd | Jackson Moody | Bryan Schultz | L&N STEM Academy | Jarvis: A Robotic Companion | $750 |
| 3rd | Abhirup Chanda | Arpita Nandi | Nandi Home School | Growth and Development of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) under Simulated Microgravity | $250 |
| 4th | Blythe Cade | Cheri Reznicek | Bearden High School | Dieting History Severity and its Relation to the Severity of Eating Disorders | $125 |
| 4th | Ryan Rearden | Bryan Schultz | L&N STEM Academy | Detecting Spectral Lines of Galactic Hydrogen in a Suburban Area | $125 |
| 5th | Olivia Wilkerson | Bryan Schultz | L&N STEM Academy | Reducing Sedimentation Rates in the Abrolhos System with a Morphology-based Artificial Reef | $75 |
| 5th | Christopher Hudak & Joshua Leach | Jessica Williams | Oak Ridge High School | Spread of COVID-19 in Schools Using Agent Based Modeling | $75/each |
| 5th | Eyrin Kim | Matthew Milligan | Farragut High School | Eviction and COVID-19: Emerging Clusters in the Southeast | $75 |
In the senior division, the Certificate of Excellence Award is given to those students whose project was determined by the judges to be of exceptional merit and deserving of higher honors. Each Certificate of Excellence winner will receive at least $50.
Behavioral and Social Sciences Category
Dieting History Severity and its Relation to the Severity of Eating Disorders
By: Blythe Cade from Bearden High School (Cheri Reznicek)
Computer Science Category
Jarvis: A Robotic Companion
By: Jackson Moody from L&N STEM Academy (Bryan Schultz)
Earth and Planetary Science Category
The Relationship Between Tropical Cyclone Translation Speeds and Aerosol Concentration
By: Raymond Jin from Farragut High School (Matthew Milligan)
Environmental Sciences Category
Spatial Pattern and Correlation Analysis to Understand the Relationship of City Structure on the Urban Heat Island (UHI) Intensity Across the US
By: Ridhima Singh from Farragut High School (Matthew Milligan)
Mathematical Sciences Category
Mathematical Analysis of Bingham Plastic Fluid Model for Hemodynamics in Stenosed Narrow Arteries
By: Ethan White from White Home School (Michelle White)
Medicine and Health Sciences Category
SARS-CoV-2 Correlation Spread Analysis using Machine Learning
By: Abigail Hausladen and Kevin Li from Oak Ridge High School (Jessica Williams)
Physics and Astronomy Category
Detecting Spectral Lines of Galactic Hydrogen in a Suburban Area
By: Ryan Rearden from L&N STEM Academy (Bryan Schultz)
Plant Sciences Category
Growth and Development of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) under Simulated Microgravity
By: Abhirup Chanda from Nandi Home School (Arpita Nandi)
The distinction of honorable mention is awarded to students whose projects were determined to be of exceptional merit.
Behavioral and Social Sciences (BE)
Eviction and COVID-19: Emerging Clusters in the Southeast
By: Eyrin Kim from Farragut High School (Matthew Milligan)
Computer Science (CS)
Spread of COVID-19 in Schools Using Agent Based Modeling
By: Christopher Hudak and Joshua Leach from Oak Ridge High School (Jessica Williams)
Environmental Sciences (EV)
Reducing Sedimentation Rates in the Abrolhos System with a Morphology-based Artificial Reef
By: Olivia Wilkerson from L&N STEM Academy (Bryan Schultz)
Mathematical Sciences (MA)
Using Data Science to Explore Historical Trends and Predict Future Rates of COVID-19
By: Daniel Joy from Oak Ridge High School (Jessica Williams)
Plant Sciences (PS)
Agriculture on Mars
By: Lily Debraal from Sullivan South High School (Thomas Rutherford)
| Place | Student | Teacher | School | Project | Prize |
| 1st | Adithya Sastry | Chandramouli Sastry | Sastry Home School | CO2 Capture from Vehicle Exhaust Using the Dry Carbonate Process | $250 |
| 2nd | Ruhaan Singh | Nagendra Singh | Singh Home School | Can We Predict the Outcome of Basketball Games Using Statistical Analysis? | $175 |
| 3rd | Mason Payne | Kasey Harkness | Lakeway Christian Academy | Which Golfball Flies the Longest Distance? | $125 |
| 3rd | Noor Babar | Anna Edwards | Annoor Academy of Knoxville | Hydration Investigation | $125 |
| 4th | Natalie Hamdan | Anna Edwards | Annoor Academy of Knoxville | D-Limonene Effect On Garbage | $75 |
| 4th | Sherlyn Guzman | Denise Miller | St. Mary’s School | Adult vs. Kids Taste differentiation | $75 |
| 4th | Zoe Marcum | Crystal Marcum | Marcum Home School | Diversity of Species in Zoos | $75 |
| 5th | Mary Zengel | Adrianna Elzinga | St. Joseph Middle School | Let It Grow! | $50 |
| 5th | Madison Skubisz | Kimberly Carroll | Rockwood Middle School | The Heat is On | $50 |
| 5th | Dylan Umansky | Denise Miller | St. Mary’s School | Efficacy of UV light Sterilization Using a Handheld Wand | $50 |
| 5th | Walter Stucke | Marti Boder | Sacred Heart Cathedral School | Unmasking the Mask | $50 |
Broadcom Mathematics, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for
Rising Stars (Broadcom MASTERS)
The Certificate of Excellence Award is given to those students whose project was determined by the judges to be of exceptional merit and deserving of higher honors. Each Certificate of Excellence winner will receive at least $50. In the Junior Division, all CE winners are also nominated for the Broadcom: Mathematics, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars (Broadcom MASTERS).
The Broadcom MASTERS program is a competition for 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade science fair competitors. Top projects from these grades earn the opportunity to compete nationally for prizes and awards including a grand prize of $25,000. Entries are judged during the summer and 300 top projects will be announced on September 1, 2021. From these Top 300 MASTERS, 30 finalists and one parent/guardian will win an all-expense-paid trip to the national finals to showcase their projects, compete in teams and visit sites that celebrate innovation through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Our 2021 winners are:
Animal Sciences Category
Diversity of Species in Zoos
By: Zoe Marcum from Marcum Home School (Crystal Marcum)
Behavioral and Social Sciences Category
Adult vs. Kids Taste differentiation
By: Sherlyn Guzman from St. Mary’s School (Denise Miller)
Biochemistry Category
Hydration Investigation
By: Noor Babar from Annoor Academy of Knoxville (Anna Edwards)
Chemistry Category
CO2 Capture from Vehicle Exhaust Using the Dry Carbonate Process
By: Adithya Sastry from Sastry Home School (Chandramouli Sastry)
Computer Science Category
OLED vs LED
By: Yara Altiti from Annoor Academy of Knoxville (Anna Edwards)
Earth and Planetary Science Category
Defying Gravity
By: David Worley from Worley Home School (Madeline Worley)
Environmental Sciences Category
D-Limonene Effect On Garbage
By: Natalie Hamdan Annoor Academy of Knoxville (Anna Edwards)
Mathematical Sciences Category
Can We Predict the Outcome of Basketball Games Using Statistical Analysis?
By: Ruhaan Singh from Singh Home School (Nagendra Singh)
Medicine and Health Sciences Category
Unmasking the Mask
By: Walter Stucke from Sacred Heart Cathedral School (Marti Boder)
Microbiology Category
Efficacy of UV light Sterilization Using a Handheld Wand
By: Dylan Umansky from St. Mary’s School (Denise Miller)
Physics and Astronomy Category – tie both receiving CE’s
Which Golfball Flies the Longest Distance?
By: Mason Payne from Lakeway Christian Academy (Kasey Harkness)
Physics and Astronomy Category – tie both receiving CE’s
The Heat is On
By: Madison Skubisz from Rockwood Middle School (Kimberly Carroll)
Plant Sciences Category
Let It Grow!
By: Mary Zengel from St. Joseph Middle School (Adrianna Elzinga)
The distinction of honorable mention is given to those students whose projects were determined by the judges to be of exceptional merit.
Animal Sciences (AS)
Cat Responses to Sound Frequencies
By: Ashley Archer from Archer Home School (Daniel and Keri Archer)
Biochemistry (BI)
To Brown or Not to Brown
By: Chayah Shepherd from Shepherd Home School (April Shepherd)
Chemistry (CH)
Vitamin C-ing is Believing
By: Molly Falvey from St. John Neumann Catholic School (Diana Brach)
Computer Science (CS)
WiFi Blocked
By: Omar Doleh from Annoor Academy of Knoxville (Anna Edwards)
Environmental Sciences (EV)
Down a Creek Without a Paddle
By: Alvaro Pint from Sacred Heart Cathedral School (Marti Boder)
Medicine and Health Sciences (ME)
Mask On, Mask Off: The Efficacy Of Wearing a Mask to Control the Spread of Bacteria
By: Megan Ferguson from Ferguson Home School (Sara Ferguson)
Best Breath
By: Brady Renfree from St. John Neumann Catholic School (Diana Brach)
Plant Sciences (PS)
This Is My Jam
By: Soha Ahmed from Annoor Academy of Knoxville (Anna Edwards)
Bubbling Pondweed
By: Lucille Barnes from St. Mary’s School (Denise Miller)
American Meteorological Society
The AMS national organization presents an award for creative scientific endeavors in atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences.
Raymond Jin (Teacher: Matthew Milligan School: Farragut High School)
Olivia Wilkerson (Teacher: Bryan Schultz School: L&N STEM Academy)
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association rewards outstanding research in the behavioral and social sciences.
Blythe Cade (Teacher: Cheri Reznicek School: Bearden High School)
ASM Materials Education Foundation
This award recognizes the project with best materials engineering and best use of materials related concepts.
David Worley (Teacher: Madeline Worley School: Worley Home School)
Association for Women Geoscientists
The Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) recognizes a female student whose project exemplifies high standards of innovativeness and scientific excellence in the geosciences.
Olivia Wilkerson (Teacher: Bryan Schultz School: L&N STEM Academy)
Lemelson Early Inventor Prize
The Lemelson Early Inventor Prize is given to a middle school student who displays entrepreneurial thinking by developing a tangible invention which may improve the lives of others.
Adithya Sastry (Teacher: Chandramouli Sastry School: Sastry Home School
Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta, The National High School and Two-Year College Mathematics Club, provides an award to the project demonstrating the most challenging, thorough and creative investigation of a problem involving modern mathematics
Ethan White (Teacher: Michelle White School: White Home School)
NASA Earth Systems Science Award
The NASA award is given to the student with an outstanding project offering the greatest insight into Earth’s interconnected systems.
Ridhima Singh (Teacher: Matthew Milligan School: Farragut High School)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA’s Taking the Pulse of the Planet award is given to the student whose project best emphasizes NOAA’s Science, Service, and Stewardship mission.
Ridhima Singh (Teacher: Matthew Milligan School: Farragut High School)
Office of Naval Research
The Office of Naval Research sponsors three Junior Division awards for excellence in Science or Engineering.
Mason Payne (Teacher: Kasey Harkness School: Lakeway Christian Academy)
Ruhaan Singh (Teacher: Nagendra Singh School: Singh Home School)
Adithya Sastry (Teacher: Chandramouli Sastry School: Sastry Home School)
The Office of Naval Research also sponsors two Senior Division prizes for excellence in Science or Engineering.
Ethan White (Teacher: Michelle White School: White Home School)
Sarah Qaddo (Teacher: William Reynolds School: Farragut High School)
Ricoh American Sustainable Development Award
This award recognizes the student whose technological and scientific innovations best reflect the principles of sustainability – balancing economic development with environmental responsibility.
Ridhima Singh (Teacher: Matthew Milligan School: Farragut High School)
USAID Science Champion Award
The US Agency for International Development Award goes to a project that shows outstanding work toward solving a global development challenge.
Ridhima Singh (Teacher: Matthew Milligan School: Farragut High School)
U.S. Air Force
The U.S. Air Force recognizes outstanding projects in science, technology, math, engineering or medicine that are of interest to the Air Force.
Daniel Joy (Teacher: Jessica Williams School: Oak Ridge High School)
U.S. Metric Association
The U.S. Metric Association recognizes students, usually in the Senior Division (but this year from the Junior Division) whose project involves quantitative measures and best uses the metric system for those measures
Ryan Rearden (Teacher: Bryan Schultz School: L&N STEM Academy)
U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Price
The Water Environment Federation recognizes projects involving water quality, water resource management, water protection, or water and wastewater treatment. The winners receive a certificate and a chance to compete for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize state competition.
Olivia Wilkerson (Teacher: Bryan Schultz School: L&N STEM Academy)
Ridhima Singh (Teacher: Matthew Milligan School: Farragut High School)
Yale Science and Engineering Prize
The Yale Science and Engineering prize goes to a Junior in High School with the top project in engineering or the physical sciences.
Jackson Moody Teacher: Bryan Schultz School: L&N STEM Academy)
American Chemical Society, East Tennessee Section
The East Tennessee Section of the American Chemical Society presents $50 cash to the best projects in the chemical sciences in each division.
Junior Division winners:
Adithya Sastry (Teacher: Chandramouli Sastry School: Sastry Home School)
Molly Falvey (Teacher Diana Brach School: St. John Neumann Catholic School)
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
The Oak Ridge/Knoxville Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers presents $75 cash awards and certificates to the top project in each division for the applications of chemical engineering principles or practices.
Junior Division winner: Adithya Sastry (Teacher: Chandramouli Sastry School: Sastry Home School)
Senior Division winner: Ridhima Singh (Teacher Matthew Milligan School: Farragut High School)
American Meteorological Society – Smoky Mountain Chapter
The Smoky Mountain Chapter of the American Meteorological Society is proud to present two cash awards of $100 each and a certificate to outstanding projects involving meteorology, climate, or atmospheric or related oceanic science.
Junior Division winner: Adithya Sastry (Teacher: Chandramouli Sastry School: Sastry Home School)
Senior Division winner: Ridhima Singh (Teacher Matthew Milligan School: Farragut High School)
In addition, this chapter also awards $100 and a certificate to a student on behalf of a former member, Robert Lind Miller. The winning project and presentation must exemplify the qualities promoted by “Bob” – clear, complete, correct, concise, and coherent
Senior Division winner: Ridhima Singh (Teacher Matthew Milligan School: Farragut High School)
Biology Teacher Award
Anonymous donors provide an award for excellence in life science research.
Abhirup Chanda (Teacher: Arpita Nandi School: Nandi Homeschool)
IEEE – East Tennessee Section
The East Tennessee Section of the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers is pleased to award $100 cash awards for the best demonstrations of electrical or electronics design or computer science.
Junior Division winner: Yara Altiti (Teacher: Anna Edwards School: Annoor Academy of Knoxville)
Senior Division winner: Jackson Moody (Teacher: Bryan Schultz School: L&N Stem Academy)
Jewelry Television
JTV (Jewelry Television®) is one of the largest jewelry retailers in the United States, supporting over 1,400 jobs on its 16-acre Knoxville campus, and they provide JTV Brilliance Awards to outstanding projects that they select, and send them a JTV gift package.
Junior Division winner: Yara Altiti (Teacher: Anna Edwards School: Annoor Academy of Knoxville)
Senior Division winner: Jackson Moody (Teacher: Bryan Schultz School: L&N Stem Academy)
Joanne Logan Sustainability Prize
The $50 Joanne Logan Sustainability Prize honors a student whose project has the sustainability mission at its core. Also, in keeping with Dr. Logan’s passion for teaching, the student’s teacher receives a $100 prize.
Alvaro Pint (Teacher: Marti Boder School: Sacred Heart Cathedral School)
Knox County Superintendent’s Award
The Knox County Schools Superintendent’s Award of $50 recognizes:
Olivia Wilkerson (Teacher: Bryan Schultz School: L&N Stem Academy)
Oak Ridge National Lab
We are pleased to announce a new award for excellence in computing by one of our largest sponsors of the fair, the Oak Ridge National Lab. This prestigious award of $500 and letters from the director of the lab goes to:
Senior Division winner: Jackson Moody (Teacher: Bryan Schultz School: L&N Stem Academy)
SASEF
Southern Appalachian Science and Science and Engineering Fair staff presents $50 cash awards and certificates and to our favorite projects.
Junior Division winners:
Alvaro Pint (Teacher: Marti Boder School: Sacred Heart Cathedral School)
Zoe Marcum (Teacher: Crystal Marcum School: Marcum Home School)
Lucille Barnes (Teacher: Denise Miller School: St. Mary’s School)
Senior Division winners:
Abigail Hausladen and Kevin Li (Teacher: Jessica Williams School: Oak Ridge High School)
Lily DeBraal (Teacher: Thomas Rutherford School: Sullivan South High School)
Society for Women Engineers, Smoky Mountain Section
The Society for Women Engineers, Smoky Mountain Section presents two $75 Awards to recognize sound applications of engineering principles.
Junior Division winner: Adithya Sastry (Teacher: Chandramouli Sastry School: Sastry Home School)
Senior Division winner: Aaron Clark (Teacher: Cheri Reznicek School: Bearden High School)
Strata G
Strata-G presents an award to a project that speaks to what is important to us—one that addresses stewardship and sustainability of the environment.
Ridhima Singh (Teacher Matthew Milligan School: Farragut High School)
Tau Beta Pi
The Great Smoky Mountain Alumni Chapter of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society is a new member of our group of local sponsors. They award $100 cash and certificates to outstanding projects in engineering.
Junior Division winner: Adithya Sastry (Teacher: Chandramouli Sastry School: Sastry Home School)
Senior Division winner: Ryan Rearden (Teacher: Bryan Schultz School: L&N Stem Academy)
Tennessee Science Teachers Association
TSTA presents a $50 cash award and certificate to projects that exemplify outstanding adherence to the scientific method.
Ryan Rearden (Teacher: Bryan Schultz School: L&N Stem Academy)
Raymond Jin (Teacher: Matthew Milligan School: Farragut High School).