Featured Volunteer: Judy Day, State Fair Director
In 2003, Judy Day accepted the volunteer position as Co-Director of the NC Science Fair that was under the NC Science Teacher Association organization. She was a former teacher and worked at The Science House at NC State University coordinating science education outreach programs across North Carolina so the Fair was a good fit with her interests. Since the Fair lacked a home for the competition that year, she established a partnership with Meredith College in Raleigh, NC to host the competition. This relationship lasted until 2018 when the Fair moved to NC State University for the competition although Meredith College continues to provide support for the Fair today.
In 2004, the Science Fair affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and our first two students were selected to compete in Portland, Oregon with all their expenses covered by the Fair. After experiencing ISEF, Judy worked to increase the number of projects participating in the high school International Science
and Engineering Fair until we established the current number of 12 projects. This provides an opportunity for students from across the state to participate in the high school ISEF and the middle school Broadcom MASTERS competition.
Judy moved to the Office of Undergraduate Research at NC State University in 2006 and worked to incorporate more participation from NC State students and faculty in the Fair and opened the door to the future move of the Fair to NC State. In 2008, the Fair changed their name to the North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair
(NCSEF) to encourage more engineering projects to participate. After recruiting a volunteer Board of Directors (NC Science Fair Foundation, NCSFF) and submitting newly created by-laws, Judy and the new board were successful in obtaining a 50l(c)3 non-profit status for the Fair. This opened the door for the organization to create new partnerships and opportunities for NC students. Judy has worked across the different positions of the organization from Chair of the Board, treasurer, registrar, coordinating judges, and organizing the Fair, many at the same time. She stated that “through the years she has been blessed to be able to work with dedicated volunteers that have helped to create and grow the organization! Without their contributions, the Fair would not exist as it is today.”
Judy still maintains contact with many of the numerous students that have participated in the Fair and gone to ISEF with her and enjoys seeing their
accomplishments.
NC Regional Fairs
In What Region Do I Participate In?
Your region for fair participation is determined by your school of record at the time when your region's NC Science & Engineering Fair is scheduled to be held. This means that if you conducted research outside your school's region during the spring, summer or fall semester you will still participate in the region of your school of record.
If you have a teammate outside your school of record's region, then you may participate in either your or your teammate's region only with permission of both regional NC Science & Engineering Fair Directors. We encourage you to contact regional fair directors as early as possible or at least 2 weeks prior to registration deadlines for Fairs.
| Region | Date | Location | Director | Counties |
| Region 1 Northeast Region Science Fair |
Fair: February 18, 2023
|
In Person | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Hertford, Gates, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Currituck, Camden, Bertie, Pitt, Beaufort, Greene, Hyde, Washington, Edgecombe, Halifax, Northampton, Dare, Tyrrell, Chowan, Martin, Lenoir |
|
Fair: February 11, 2023 Registration and Form Deadline: January 18, 2023 |
In Person |
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Sampson, Wayne, Craven, Pamlico, Jones, Onslow, Duplin, Carteret, Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick | |
| Region 3A Central Region Science Fair |
Fair: February 25, 2023 Registration Deadline: January 21, 2023 |
In Person |
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Durham, Granville, Wake, Vance, Warren, Johnston, Wilson, Nash, Franklin |
| Region 3B NC School of Science & Mathematics Fair |
Fair: February 20, 2023 |
In Person |
Dr.Jon Bennett This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Students attending NC School of Science and Mathematics from across North Carolina |
| Region 4 South Central Regional Science Fair |
Fair: February 19, 2022 |
In Person |
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Moore, Lee, Harnett, Cumberland, Hoke, Bladen, Columbus, Montgomery, Scotland, Richmond, Robeson |
| Region 5 North Central Regional Science Fair |
Fair: February 11, 2023 Registration and Form Deadline: January 28, 2023 |
In Person |
Judy Day |
Stokes, Forsyth, Davidson, Rockingham, Guilford, Randolph, Caswell, Person, Orange, Alamance, Chatham, Davie, Surry (including Mt. Airy), Yadkin |
| Region 6 Southwest and Charlotte-Mecklenberg |
February 2, 2023 for SR, February 4, 2023 for Elementary & Juniors. Registration Deadline: 1/13/23 |
Virtual Event |
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Mecklenburg, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, Rowan, Cabarrus, Stanly, Union, Anson, Iredell |
| Region 7 Northwest Regional Science Fair |
January 10, 2023 |
In Person |
Dr. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (828) 260-5977 |
Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Catawba, Alleghany, Wilkes, Yancey, Mitchell, McDowell, Alexander |
| Region 8 Western Regional Science Fair |
February 9, 2023 (grades 3-5) February 10, 2023 (grades 6-12) |
In Person |
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Cherokee, Graham, Clay, Swain, Macon, Haywood, Jackson, Transylvania, Madison, Buncombe, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford |
NC Science Fair Foundation Welcomes our New Executive Director, Stephánia Smith
Raleigh, N.C. – August 9, 2022
Dr. Mohammad Ahmed, Chairman of the non-profit NC Science Fair Foundation (NCSFF) and Dean, College of Health and Sciences, at North Carolina Central University, is pleased to announce the selection of Stephánia Smith as the organization’s new Executive Director effective July 1, 2022. On Ms. Smith’s appointment, Ahmed said, “Ms. Smith’s leadership experience in strategic planning, partnership development, resource management, project coordinator, training and development, and engaging with state, local, and school level leaders will contribute greatly to our continuous improvement now and in the future.”
As an honors graduate of St. Louis University, Ms. Smith holds a B.A. in Business Organization Design Studies and is completing M.A. in Adult Education and HR Management. Ms. Smith brings to this leadership role a proven track record in the corporate, non-profit, and education sectors with areas of focus in instructional design and development, workforce performance management, virtual teams and project management. Through her Training and Development work, Smith holds certifications as an Apple Instructor-Led Trainer, Apple Virtual Instructor-Led Trainer, and Apple Train-the-Trainer Technical Leader. Smith possesses a SCRUM Masters Agile Project Management Certification as well as a Google IT Support Certification.
On her selection, Smith said, "Science is in everything that our students see, everyday. Every child should have the opportunity to engage in the wonders of STEM and dream of what possibilities are attainable. Science fairs, educational progress, career exploration, and teacher and parent knowledge development, are fundamental keys to success provided by NCSFF. We are moving into greater advancements for reaching all students across North Carolina with our welcoming message."
The NCSFF sponsors the state level North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair (NCSEF) and its 9 Regional Competitions across North Carolina. NCSFF is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, volunteer driven organization, whose mission is to increase inquiry-based student research in STEM related areas of study in Grades 3-12 by “Inspiring Innovation in Student Research.” NCSEF is the state affiliate to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) sponsored by the Society for Science.
For more information about being a NCSEF judge, volunteer, or sponsors, please contact Ms. Smith at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the NCSFF website at http://www.ncsffoundation.org. For more details about the the science and engineering fair, visit the NCSEF website at http://ncsciencefair.org
