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 sixteen Ardent students won awards.
Several have placed before. Braden, 3rd Place in 2022 and 2023, won 1st Place this year. Marissa placed for the third year in a row. Meghana won 1st Place for the second year. Haley moved from an Honorable Mention in 2023 to 1st Place, and Benjamin from 2nd Place to 1st. Mahima and Mark, both 1st Place winners in 2022, placed again.
16students with awards
9first places
8special awards
Junior Division, grades 6–8
- Mahima1st Place, Physiology/Medical Biology
- Meghana1st Place, Pharmacology/Toxicology
- Braden1st Place, Mathematics and Software
- Ishani1st Place, Medical Biology
- Aarav1st Place, Physics
- Jocelyn1st Place, Environmental Science/Environmental Engineering
- Neil2nd Place, Medical Biology
- Grace2nd Place, Pharmacology/Toxicology
- MairaHonorable Mention, Botany
Senior Division, grades 9–12
- Haley1st Place, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
- Benjamin1st Place, Environmental Science/Environmental Engineering
- Aryan1st Place, Botany
- Marissa2nd Place, Environmental Science/Environmental Engineering
- Mark2nd Place, Physiology/Medical Biology
- Ashley2nd Place, Chemistry
- DerrickHonorable Mention, Microbiology and Cell Biology
Special awards, grades 6–12
- BradenOffice of Naval Research, Naval Science Award
- JocelynOrange County Sanitation District Award
- GraceSoCal Association of Diagnostics & Lab Medicine Special Award
- MarkSoCal Association of Diagnostics & Lab Medicine Special Award
- MarissaAssociation for Women Geoscientists Award
- BenjaminOCSEF Nat Lamm Memorial Award
- AryanOCSEF David Walkington Memorial Award; Ricoh Sustainable Development Award
- AshleyOrange County Section of the American Chemical Society Science Fair Award