A student at the March 19, 2026, science fair leaned in close to their display, carefully explaining how a custom-built bridge held the weight of hundreds of pennies before finally giving way. This moment of pride was one of many as students from across the district transformed months of curiosity into tangible experiments.
The event was organized by Julia-Anna Searson, who also served as a judge alongside fellow Farmingdale High School science teachers Brittany Clark and Jacob Murphy. Students from Albany Avenue Elementary School, Northside Elementary School, Saltzman East Memorial Elementary School, and Weldon E. Howitt Middle School gathered to showcase their findings. Adding to the excitement of the evening, Superintendent Paul Defendini toured the exhibits to speak with the young researchers about their hypotheses and the challenges they overcame.
Celebrating Achievement
The district is proud to recognize the 2026 winners and their impressive projects:
Beginner’s Category
- 1st Place: Bobby Humann (Albany Avenue) – "Which bridge design holds the most weight in pennies?"
- 2nd Place: Gianni Verde (Saltzman) – "Whether wood baseball bats or metal provide a further hitting distance."
- 3rd Place: Mark Iannotta (Northside) – "Board Crane Build"
Intermediate Category
- 1st Place: Boden Hopper and Kevin Orofino (Northside) – "Double Dip v. 5 Second Rule: Which grows more bacteria?"
- 2nd Place: Amelia Contardo (Howitt) – "Vegetation to Groundwater"
- 3rd Place: Kennedy Cinelli (Northside) – "Cereal Porosity"
These budding scientists remind us that the quest for knowledge starts with a simple question. As these students continue their academic journeys, the skills they learned—critical thinking, resilience, and observation—will serve as the foundation for the innovators of tomorrow.