'It was really great:' Augusta-area homeschoolers host their own science fair

Miguel Legoas, Augusta Chronicle
·2 min read
Jacob Lott, winner of the grades 8 and over age group, poses for a picture next to his science project at the first annual CSRA Homeschool Science Fair at SOAR Academy on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Students competed for ribbons in four different grade-level groups.
Jacob Lott, winner of the grades 8 and over age group, poses for a picture next to his science project at the first annual CSRA Homeschool Science Fair at SOAR Academy on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Students competed for ribbons in four different grade-level groups.

Science fair may be a staple of many kids' schools, but for homeschooled students like eighth-grader Jacob Lott, Thursday was the first time he ever got to compete in one.

Lott was one of the winners at the inaugural CSRA Homeschool Science Fair at SOAR Academy in Martinez.

'It was really great, really well-planned out," he said. "It was also cool to win, I definitely didn't expect it."

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Students pet snakes at the first annual CSRA Homeschool Science Fair at SOAR Academy on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Students competed for ribbons in four different grade-level groups.
Students pet snakes at the first annual CSRA Homeschool Science Fair at SOAR Academy on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Students competed for ribbons in four different grade-level groups.

More than a dozen homeschoolers competed in the science fair, with projects covering everything from "Which area of a restaurant has the most germs?" to "How to survive a nuclear blast?" Participants were free to check out each other's projects while also getting a hands-on education with a variety of visiting animals from snakes and lizards to a hive of honey bees.

This was the brainchild of two homeschool-moms: Megan Berry and Amber Baxley.

"We were asking around, looking for where we could hold a science fair because homeschool kids don't get that experience," Baxley said. "Maddie [Madeline Gregory] commented on my post and was like 'Hey, we can help you.' So, we came to look at the space and it was perfect."

Science projects sit on display at the first annual CSRA Homeschool Science Fair at SOAR Academy on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Students competed for ribbons in four different grade-level groups.
Science projects sit on display at the first annual CSRA Homeschool Science Fair at SOAR Academy on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Students competed for ribbons in four different grade-level groups.

Gregory is the office-manager at SOAR, a non-traditional private school serving second graders through high school seniors.

"We are truly supporters of school-choice," Gregory said. "We want to make sure that everybody has the same opportunities."

Jenny Jewett, whose 8-year-old son Silas was another winner, was very proud of her child's success and glad for this new resource.

"I grew up doing the science fair and I have really fond memories of it, so to be able to have that for kids in homeschool is special, especially because he loves science," she said.

Looking ahead, Baxley said they intend to bring in more people next year to compete and volunteer. But for now, she is happy to see the kids' excitement and hopes it fosters a long-lasting hype for science.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta-area science fair for homeschooled students at SOAR Academy