The Fayette Innovations in Research, Science and Technology (FIRST) Foundation is gearing up to offer an additional award this year to recognize outstanding student achievements in science.
FIRST presented its inaugural middle school award last year at the Fayette County Science and Engineering Fair to a Whitewater Middle School student whose project took first place honors.
FIRST will continue to recognize outstanding science fair students with the addition of a new high school award that will be given at the 2015 Fayette County Science and Engineering Fair in January.
Three friends and science fair winners John Childers, Keaton Wimbish and Kyle Ewers founded the FIRST Foundation when they were eighth graders at Bennett’s Mill Middle School. They used their science fair winnings to get it up and running. All three students are currently sophomores at McIntosh High School. Matt Johnson, also a sophomore at McIntosh, has joined FIRST as membership chairman. Ewers serves as president.
To generate proceeds to benefit FIRST’s initiatives, the students organized a recent yard sale that raised over $200.
In addition to recognizing the scientific accomplishments of students, FIRST also supports new teachers by providing them with gift cards and goody bags at the beginning of the school year.
