The Orange County Science & Engineering Fair is the county's annual research competition for students in grades 6 through 12. Students present original work to judges in a Junior Division for grades 6–8 and a Senior Division for grades 9–12. Winners can go on to the California Science & Engineering Fair and national competitions. This year thirty Ardent students won awards.
Five placed for the second year. Dylan won 1st Place in Mathematics & Software again, and Nithin won 1st Place in a new category. Sabreen and Katherine, a 1st Place winner and an Honorable Mention in 2020, both won 2nd Place. Raghav, a Junior Division winner in 2020, placed in the Senior Division.
30students with awards
5first places
8special awards
Junior Division, grades 6–8
- Matthew1st Place, Botany Applications
- Phoebe1st Place, Cognitive Science
- Melody1st Place, Electricity & Electronics
- Clara2nd Place, Cognitive Science
- Elena2nd Place, Behavioral Sciences
- Shaurya2nd Place, Mathematics & Software
- Cloris2nd Place, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Nacham3rd Place, Microbiology & Cell Biology
- Alexandra3rd Place, Physical Product Science
- Nikita3rd Place, Cognitive Science
Senior Division, grades 9–12
- Nithin1st Place, Physiology & Medical Biology
- Dylan1st Place, Mathematics & Software
- Sabreen2nd Place, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Katherine2nd Place, Electricity & Electronics
- Min2nd Place, Mathematics & Software
- Alex2nd Place, Fluids & Aerodynamics
- Eric2nd Place, Microbiology & Cell Biology
- Pranav2nd Place, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Lauren2nd Place, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Anthony3rd Place, Environmental Science
- Shrey3rd Place, Physiology & Medical Biology
- Alex3rd Place, Mathematics & Software
- Tane3rd Place, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Raghav3rd Place, Biological Product Sciences
- Langdan3rd Place, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- DaichiHonorable Mention, Fluids & Aerodynamics
- MingHonorable Mention, Mathematics & Software
- AndyHonorable Mention, Behavioral Sciences
Special awards
- MelodyArnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Chapman Award
- KatherineSPIE, the International Society for Optics & Photonics
- AlexAmerican Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics
- AnthonyCWEA, Orange County Water District, National Water Research Institute
- DavidHarald Biessmann Memorial Award
- LangdanHarald Biessmann Memorial Award
- ChloeAmerican Association for Clinical Chemistry
- ClorisAmerican Association for Clinical Chemistry