Chesney Elementary School's scientists are ready for the next level!

     The 48th Annual Gwinnett Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair is here, and Chesney Elementary School offers a powerful example of the journey many young scientists from across Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) take to reach the regional stage. Chesney is one of more than 100 schools sending young scientists and their projects to the regional fair.

     The school recently hosted its Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Fair, where 13 students earned the opportunity to advance to the countywide competition.

     The Gwinnett Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair is set for Friday, February 27, at the Gas South Convention Center, bringing together student researchers from elementary, middle, and high schools across GCPS.

     Last year, the event featured more than 800 projects representing over 115 schools—highlighting the district’s strong commitment to scientific inquiry, creativity, and innovation.

     For schools like Chesney ES, the path to the regional fair begins at the local level. Students develop original science or engineering projects, complete research, test hypotheses or design solutions, and present their findings to school-based judges. The most exceptional projects—those demonstrating strong scientific reasoning, originality, and clear communication—are selected to move on. Chesney Elementary Assistant Principal Dr. Syllen Hill says seeing students advance is a powerful reminder of the academic culture being built within schools across GCPS.

     “It feels like validation—not just of the students’ hard work, but of the culture we are building as a school,” Dr. Hill shares. “Each of those students represents hours of curiosity, resilience, problem‑solving, and perseverance. But beyond that, they represent teachers who stayed late, parents who offered encouragement, and a school environment that prioritizes growth and excellence.”

     Once students qualify for the countywide fair, they begin an intensive refinement process. Working closely with their STEM instructors, they strengthen clarity, accuracy, and logic within their projects. Students revise written explanations, enhance visual displays, and practice responding to potential judge questions. Through this process, participants sharpen not only their scientific thinking but also their communication, public speaking, and critical analysis skills.

This developmental journey, Dr. Hill says, is what makes the science fair so meaningful.

     “Watching students step confidently into a larger arena reminds me that our job is not simply to teach content—it’s to nurture potential,” she adds. “When students move forward, it signals that we are cultivating thinkers, innovators, and leaders who are ready to compete beyond our campus.”

     The 48th Annual Gwinnett Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair will once again showcase the best of GCPS student innovation—projects that began in classrooms across the county, strengthened through mentorship, and brought to life through curiosity and determination.

“Success at this level reflects collective effort,” Dr. Hill says. “It’s not just a milestone. It’s momentum.”

Discover more about the regional competition on the Gwinnett Science Fair website.