TATA Chemicals representative Troy Gross, overall winner Ash Cooper, from Pinedale High School, David Tanner, Dean of Arts and Sciences, and Beth Gard, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Western Wyoming Community College (Western) hosted science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students, in grades 6-12, who participated in the Southwest Regional Science Fair (Fair) on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

This year, 68 students registered from five different schools across the region. The Fair is an opportunity for students to apply their STEM knowledge, engage in scientific thought, and gain innovative ideas and knowledge from peers and educators. Local STEM teachers dedicate much of their time to preparing their students for this educational opportunity.

“The Science Fair gives students statewide a chance to showcase their scientific creativity and ingenuity. We deeply appreciate the participating students and the teachers and families who support them,” said David Tanner, Dean of Arts and Sciences.

The Regional Science Fair is an affiliate of Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. The categories, divisions, rules, and judging criteria of the Fair are in line with the Intel ISEF requirements.

This year, there were 45 projects from the following schools: Big Piney Middle School, Kemmerer Junior/ Senior High School, Pinedale High School, Hanna Elementary and Jackson Hole Community School.

The results are as follows:

• Ash Cooper, from Pinedale High School for his project, Second Chances. Ash was awarded a trophy and medal.

• 1st place: Symon Carpenter (Big Piney Middle School) – The Effect of Roads in the Cottonwood Ryegrass Area on Sage Grouse Behavior
• 2nd place: Karter Razar (Big Piney Middle School) – The Effect of Crossing Structures on Mule Deer Behavior
• 3rd place: Briggs Bailey & Stetson Hoffman (Big Piney Middle School) – Behavioral Responses of Cattle to GPS-Based Virtual Fencing Systems

• 1st place: Adison Penfield & Gabriella Bennett (Big Piney Middle School) – The Cognitive Effects of ChatGPT on the Brain
• 2nd place: Saige Erickson & Tailyn Sellers (Kemmerer Jr/Sr High School) – Coke vs Pepsi
• 2nd place: Kelsey Zobell (Kemmerer Jr/Sr High School) – Who’s Who and What’s What of Chocolate

• 1st place: Annie Statter & Marlow Stricklin (Jackson Hole Community School) – The Cognitive Effects of ChatGPT on the Brain
• 2nd place: Gabriela Carrillo Granados (Jackson Hole Community School) – Back to Reality

• 1st place: Brynnley Holgate & Brylee Staley (Big Piney Middle School) – The Effect of Herbicide on DNA Structure
• 2nd place: Callee Wilder (Big Piney Middle School) – Extraction and Utilization of Plant-Based Lignin for the Development of Eco-Friendly Fire Retardants

• 1st place: Izabella McCommons & Elizabeth Wagstaff (Big Piney Middle School) – The Effects Blue Light Has On Your Circadian Rhythm
• 2nd place: Isabella Bennet & Colleen Denison (Big Piney Middle School) – Bio-Brawl: The Battle Between Wrestlers & Bacteria
• 3rd place: Anessa Bowen & Cameryn Hanssen (Kemmerer Jr/Sr High School) – Can you tell the difference in M&M colors?

• 1st place: Quinsie Butler (Hanna Elementary) – Disintegrating Eggshell
• 2nd place: Evelyn Frescas (Hanna Elementary School) – Ice, Ice Baby Melt!
• 3rd place: Angelavon Alexander(Hanna Elementary School) – Dissolved Mess

• 1st place: Heidi Bell & Avery Burgess (Big Piney Middle School) – Removing Microplastics from Water
• 2nd place: Kyla Arnold (Big Piney Middle School) – The Effect of High Traffic Levels on Particulate Matter Concentrations Near Roadways
• 3rd place: Silas Strong & Greyson Wicks (Big Piney Middle School) – What is the species diversity, and population densities of flora and fauna within 100 meters of natural gas well-sites compared to control areas in the Hogsback area?

• 1st place: Ezra Howard (Big Piney Middle School) – Eco-Energy: Comparing the Output of Biochars Derived from Wood and Manure and Firewood
• 2nd place: Aidan Rees & Garrett York (Big Piney Middle School) – Engineering an Electromagnetic Launcher
• 3rd place: Weston Eiden (Big Piney Middle School) – The Effect of Nose Cone Shape on Rocket Aerodynamics

• 1st place: Ash Cooper (Pinedale High School) – Second Chances
• 2nd place: Ash Stam (Jackson Hole Community School) – The Effects of Clear Coatings on Microplastic Reduction in Vinyl Records
• 3rd place: Jacob Heimbouch & Andrew Overbay (Jackson Hole Community School) – What type of material is cheapest but still reflects heat the best for aircraft insulation?

• 1st place: Karlee Bowles & Raelynn Denison (Big Piney Middle School) – The Effect of Gene Insertion in Creating Glowing Bacteria
• 2nd place: Amdon Combs, Oaklee Hill, Thadeus Runnion (Kemmerer Jr/Sr High School) – The Five Second Rule
• 3rd place: Brexton Dearden, Liam Parks, Brody Wengren (Kemmerer Jr/Sr High School) – What Molds the Fastest?

• 1st place: Chrstina Duchon & Keslie Knotts (Big Piney Middle School) – The Effect of Air Pressure on Volleyball Speed
• 2nd place: Johnson Bright (Big Piney Middle School) – Exploring the Physics Behind Plasma and Using it in a Cannon
• 3rd place: Kimberly Schneider (Kemmerer Jr/Sr High School) – Which sound is the fastest?

• 1st place: Jensen Bray & Leland Jones (Big Piney Middle School) – The Effect of CO2 Loading on Rates Plants Growth
• 2nd place: Alexys Moceika & Sage Polk (Big Piney Middle School) – The Effect of Vape Liquid on the Germination of Alfalfa Seeds
• 3rd place: Landon Griffin & Gage Jones (Big Piney Middle School) – The Effect of Fire Retardant on Plant Cells

• 1st place: Andie Abad & Kiera Jackson (Jackson Hole Community School) – The Interaction Between Microplastics and Plant Roots