Students from Forsyth County Schools delivered an outstanding performance at the 9th Annual Georgia College State K–5 Science and Engineering Fair, at Milledgeville, GA on March 12th 2026, earning some of the competition’s highest honors and reinforcing the district’s growing strength in STEM education. The scale of the event was reflected in participation from multiple counties across Georgia, including Forsyth, Fulton, Newton, Bibb, Cherokee, Richmond, DeKalb, Baldwin, Chatham, Columbia, as well as Atlanta Public Schools, with several students from these regions earning top honors. The Fair saw record participation this year, with 344 registered projects and a total of 452 students participating from 101 schools across Georgia . The fair has witnessed remarkable growth since its inception in 2018. Over the years, it has steadily expanded into a statewide platform for young learners, reflecting increasing enthusiasm for STEM education and hands-on scientific exploration among elementary students.
Leading the state was Kathryn Tree of New Hope Elementary (Forsyth County), who won the Overall Grand Prize (Best of Show) for her project “O2 to be or O not 2 to be: How Temperature Changes Dissolved Oxygen,” while also earning recognition in the Grand Top 10% Category Awards. Widely regarded as the top recognition of the fair, the award highlights exceptional innovation and scientific thinking at an early age.
Forsyth County’s strong showing did not stop there. Aarya Dogra Sudan of Whitlow Elementary (Forsyth County) earned the Best of Category Award in Physics and Engineering (Elementary Division) along with a spot in the Top 10% Grand Category Awards . Her achievement highlights the growing strength of STEM education within the district. The school’s success was further strengthened by Pranavi M, who won Best of Kindergarten, Satya S, who earned Best of 1st Grade, and Natraj Pillai, who secured Best of 2nd Grade—all of whom also received recognition in the Grand Top 10% Category Awards, marking a remarkable sweep for Whitlow across multiple grade levels.
Mashburn Elementary (Forsyth County) also made a strong mark, with Shanaya Baheti and Gauravi Sangeetha Thilak earning Best of Class – 4th Grade, while Andrew Koepp secured Best of Health Sciences – Elementary Division, all of whom were also recognized in the Grand Top 10% Category Awards…