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 one of dozens of categories, 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 eleven Ardent students won awards.
Four have placed before. Meghana won 1st Place for the third year running. Benjamin placed for the third year, after 2nd Place in 2023 and 1st in 2024. Haley, an Honorable Mention in 2023 and 1st Place in 2024, placed again. Aryan won 1st Place for the second year.
11awards
5first places
2divisions, Junior and Senior
Junior Division, grades 6–8
- Meghana1st Place, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Zixin1st Place, Microbiology & Cell Biology. A sixth grader, Zixin tested natural antibiotics.
- Aiden2nd Place, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- James3rd Place, Behavioral Science. His project observed the social effects of recent federal immigration policy.
Senior Division, grades 9–12
- Benjamin1st Place, Botany Applications. He built neural networks to optimize crop yield for sustainable farming.
- Aryan1st Place, Environmental Science & Environmental Engineering
- Max1st Place, Energy Conversion & Alternative Energy
- Jeremy2nd Place, Earth Science & Physical Environment
- Haley3rd Place, Pharmacology
Special awards, grades 6–12
- SophieHonorable Mention, Math & Software
- AadhyaHonorable Mention, American Statistical Association, Orange County/Long Beach Chapter