Awards

The Niagara Regional Science and Engineering Fair started in 1962 and has continued to grow for the last 48 years through recognition by education institutions and the public, student participants and awards. Students who live in the Niagara Region and are in grades 5 through 12 are eligible to enter.

There presently exists an extensive awards program. It is the result of participation of donors that include educational institutions, associations, businesses, and individuals who give their financial support and encouragement to ensure the success of each year's fair.

At the Awards Ceremony (held a week or so after the Fair), awards are presented to students whose projects obtained high marks in each division (Juvenile, Junior, Intermediate and Senior). The top Junior, Intermediate and Senior winners are eligible to compete in the Canada Wide Science Fair, held at a different location in Canada each year.

In addition to the Divisional Awards, there are numerous "Special Awards" given to students whose projects have not only earned high marks, but have met specific criteria set by the sponsors of these awards. These projects are judged by representatives of the award's sponsor and/or members of the NRSEF Awards Committee.

The Niagara Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NRSEF) wishes to thank our many sponsors and donors who have made it possible for the NRSEF to reward excellence. Their generosity allows us to present over 100 trophies and monetary prizes to our participants.

DIVISIONAL AWARDS

There are four divisions based on student school grade level:

     Juvenile - Grades 5 and 6
     Junior - Grades 7 and 8
     Intermediate - Grades 9 and 10
     Senior - Grades 11 and 12

Prizes are awarded to First, Second, Third and Honourable Mention places in each of these divisions. The order for the division awards is based solely on marks given by the judges. Every project entered is evaluated independently by at least three judges up to a maximum of five judges.

The following awards are presented to the student projects that received the highest judges' marks in their division.

     Juvenile - THE ONTARIO POWER CORPORATION TROPHY
     Junior - THE ENBRIDGE GAS AWARD (plaque)
     Intermediate - THE NIAGARA COLLEGE TROPHY
     Senior - BROCK FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE AWARD (plaque)

SCHOOL AWARDS

A trophy or plaque is awarded to schools with the most project entries receiving the highest marks in their division.

     Juvenile - THE NANCY MAYNES AWARD (plaque)
     Junior - THE ST. CATHARINES STANDARD TROPHY
     Secondary - THE VALE INCO AWARD (plaque)

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS' AWARD

Elementary teachers' affiliations present their award to students within their school system who have achieved outstanding results from the judges. Each affiliate selects two male and two female student projects for this distinction.

     ETFO - Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario
     OECTA - Ontario English Catholic Teacher's Association

UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIPS

The following universities presently award scholarships to selected students who have completed outstanding projects in either Intermediate or Senior divisions.

     Brock University
     University of Ottawa

RICHARD HIATT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SCIENCE TEACHER

This award is given each year to a science teacher whose students' projects received higher marks as a group than all the other school groups who entered the Fair.

JUDGING CRITERIA

The judging criteria for the different categories of projects is outlined specifically in the NRSEF booklet. Generally speaking the students are judged on excellence in research, creative ability, scientific thought and process, skill, clarity, application and communication.

PRIZES

The students whose projects win recognition at the NRSEF are eligible to receive one or more prizes that may include a trophy, plaque, keeper, certificate of achievement, tangible item and/or monetary prize. All prizes awarded EXCEPT for the large trophies and plaques are kept by the winning students.

The large trophies and plaques are the property of the NRSEF and are awarded each year. The committee requests that these trophies and plaques be displayed by the winning students in their schools. Prior to the following year's Fair, they will be picked up from the schools by a NRSEF committee member.

SPECIAL AWARDS

The following links outline each of the "Special Awards" with its project criteria, eligible division(s) and prizes. The information for each of the following awards has been determined by the sponsor of the particular award.

In the event the judges of a given special award are unable to find a project with high enough standards that meet the criteria of their award, then the award will not be presented that year.


Special Awards List from 2010