Mahopac Middle School students explored everything from kinetic energy and robotics to stop-motion animation during the school’s annual STEAM Fair, held Jan. 23–24 in the gymnasium. After weeks of research and preparation, more than 350 students presented over 175 projects, highlighting their creativity, curiosity and critical thinking.
The two-day event, coordinated by science teachers Margaret Fox and Kelly Kischak, welcomed visiting fifth graders from across the district on the first day, giving younger students an opportunity to experience the fair and engage with middle school presenters.
Seventh grader Kyle Augi took first place in the Engineering, Technology and Computers category for his project examining how frames per second affect stop-motion animation.
“I made stop-motion videos for my project and chose to film toys that were articulated,” Augi said. “Articulation means it has moveable joints like arms, legs and torso.”
Augi explained that his hypothesis focused on discovering whether increasing the number of frames per second would create smoother motion. He made five different stop-motion videos and gradually increased the frames per second in each video.
As Augi presented his work to visitors, Lakeview Elementary School fifth grader Bryce Anderson connected the presentation to his own experience.
“I like his project because I’ve made stop-motion movies before with LEGOs, and it’s very cool and fun to do,” Anderson said.
Principal Tom Cozzocrea praised the collective effort behind the event and the enthusiasm shown by students at every level.
“The STEAM Fair is a powerful example of what happens when students are given the opportunity to explore their interests, ask questions and learn from one another,” Cozzocrea said. “This event would not be possible without Kelly and Margaret, the dedication of our teachers, the mentorship of our high school students and the support of our families and school community. It was especially exciting to welcome our fifth graders and share this experience with them.”
More than 60 students from the Mahopac High School National Science Honor Society (NSHS) volunteered their time to mentor approximately 160 middle school students through weekly sessions leading up to the fair. High school students also assisted with judging, event planning and setup. Projects were evaluated by teams of middle and high school science teachers, along with NSHS members.
The district extended thanks to Superintendent of Schools Frank Miele, parents, teachers, custodial staff and the Mahopac Middle School PTO, which generously provided pizza and water for participating students. Special recognition was also given to Fox and Kischak for their leadership in bringing back the Saturday component of the event after a one-year absence.
Select students will advance to represent Mahopac Middle School at the Westchester Regional Middle School Science & Engineering Fair, with top finishers there eligible to move on to the next level of competition.
The STEAM Fair continues to foster a culture of inquiry, collaboration and innovation, inspiring students across grade levels to think creatively and engage deeply in the learning process.
Chemistry
First Place
“Spotless Solutions” (Alicja Caffery and Aurora VanOrsdale)
Second Place
“Dancing Bubbles” (Jaylee Tenenpaguay)
Third Place
“Hot Ice” (London Jarrett, Anastasia Jones and Valentina Teixeira)
“What Melts Ice Faster - Salt or Sugar?” (Dillon Lowery, Benedetto Savino and Antonis Thanos)
Health and Medicine
First Place
“Does Red Dye 40 Affect the Ability to Focus in Children with ADHD?” (Evelyn Polanco)
Second Place
“Sunscreen Science” (Samantha Cotter and Amelia Forger)
Third Place
“Is the Water You're Drinking Safe?” (Emily O'Hanlon)
Psychology
First Place
“Fruit Loop Frauds!!!” (Aiden Frey and Alexander Klajbon)
Physics and Mathematics
First Place
“Stanley vs. Owala; Cold Comparison” (Hiba Benouara)
Second Place
“What is the Most Effective Way to Get Ready in the Morning?” (Marjan Ljumic)
Third Place
“Human Powered Energy” (Cody Gibbons and Iker Contreras Sanchez)
“Marble Madness” (Arianna Correa, Emily Penny and Theresa Rossner)
“Water Bottle Science” (Charlotte Gerleit and Eleanor Shaffer)
Earth and Space
First Place
“Evaluating Life Sustainability Based on Distance From The Sun” (Alonso Ibarra)
Second Place
“Our Friend the Moon” (Milla Corral Gamboa and Zoey Perez)
Biology
First Place
“Who’s the Baby?” (Kayla Batista and Madison Lagoa)
Second Place
“The Mandela Effect - How the Mandela Effect Affects Your Memory” (Kaijana McLean and Ayun Roh)
Third Place
“The Heart Of Music” (Kylie Cook and Abigail Ovalles)
Engineering, Technology and Computers
First Place
“How FPS Effects Stop Motion” (Kyle Augi)
“Which Wind Turbine Blade Will Produce the Most Electricity?” (Dylan Fumusa)
Second Place
“Stationary Versus Sun Tracking” (David Andrade and Lucas Stasiak)
Third Place
“Can you Spot AI?” (Nicole Caruso, Emily Ielpi and Jayde Wanner)
“Sky Scouts” (Joseph Cafarelli and Brendan Reilly)
Environment
First Place
“Elodea Extermination” (Cora Ramahlo)
Second Place
“Fueling the Future” (Ava Mueller and Arya Pellegrino)
