Staff Report

Miami Gardens, Fla. —  Home of the wildly successful Jazz in the Gardens annual music festival, the city of Miami Gardens can now add another successful event to its roster. The city hosted its fifth Science and Engineering Fair on Dec. 8 and over 300 community members, science enthusiasts and supporters came out to celebrate students and their hard work.  The event culminated in an awards ceremony at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex in Miami Gardens.

The City of Miami Gardens’ Science and Engineering Fair is the brain trust of Councilman David Williams Jr., and has become one of the city’s most popular projects.  With tremendous support from its sponsors, the fair shines a deserving spotlight on students with talent and enthusiasm in the science and engineering fields.

“Each year I look forward to seeing how much creativity and passion students have placed into these projects,” says Councilman David Williams Jr. “It is so enlightening to see such sparks of interest in science, engineering and technology, which I know will be beneficial for each of their futures.”

The top ten winners from the Science and Engineering Fair were as follows: 1st Place – Leah Anderson, North Dade Center for Modern Language; 2nd Place – Carjae Duncombe, North Dade Center for Modern Language; 3rd Place – Jadel Guerrero, Carol City Elementary; 4th Place – Vaden L. Rafael, North Dade Center for Modern Languages; 5th Place – Madison Piner, North Dade Center for Modern Languages; 6th Place – Derrick Larkins, Scott Lake School Elementary; 7th Place – Peyton Joseph, Brentwood Elementary; 8th Place – Omari Page, Hibiscus Elementary; 9th Place – Mikavia Williams, Hibiscus Elementary; and 10th Place – Aden Sanchez, Brentwood Elementary.

Over 100 students competed for cash prizes ranging from $150-$700. Cash prizes were also awarded to parents of the top 15 finishers, courtesy of St. Thomas University. A key highlight of the event included a science presentation by the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science that wowed the audience.

St. Thomas University and the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science were prime sponsors, with additional support provided by the Jessie Trice Community Health Center, Inc., UAIC, Lehman Auto World, Amerigroup Real Solutions, FP&L, Audubon of Florida, Live Healthy Miami Gardens, North Dade Youth and Family Coalition, Early Learning Coalition, The Resource Room, The Oscar Thomas Foundation, and others.

With a population of over 107,000, the City of Miami Gardens is the third largest city in Miami-Dade County, covering twenty square miles. Its new city hall is the only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design public facility in America.