Students from Fayette County middle and high schools took top honors at the regional level of the Regional Educational Services Administration science fair.

Sammy Chang of Starr's Mill High School won the overall fair award and will compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Detroit, Mich. in May.

Among 17 projects exhibited by Fayette County students, 15 received awards. All first place winners will advance to the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair in Athens, April 6-8.

In the senior category, Chang took first place in biochemistry with RAPD PCR for “Differentiation of Xylella Fastidiosa Strains,” and McIntosh High School's Tony Hung took first place in chemistry for “The Comparison Effect of Limiting Factors on Electrolyzed Oxidizing Water vs Chlorine Water in Relation to Their Bactericidal Efficiency.”

Jessica King of Fayette County High School took first place in medicine and health for her project, “Does the Organism That Causes Tuberculosis Have a DNA Plasmid?” Second place in botany was awarded to Lynette Marie Belhause of Fayette County High School for “Monitoring Hydroponics and Their Nutrient Deficiencies.”

Second place in chemistry was given to Michael David Spradlin of FCHS for “Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Preservatives.” McIntosh's team placed second with their project, “The Acid Rain test: Which Building Materials Will Pass?” Team members include Anna Fishman, Kathleen Powers, Ingrid Lawhorn. Starr's Mill High School's team also took second with “Insecticides: Helpful or Harmful?” Team members are Brett Haynie and Phillip Strickland. Starr's Mill's team placed third with “Water Quality in Fayette County.” Team members are Amanda Baumgardner and Jennifer Burk.

Michael John Koziol of Rising Starr Middle School placed first in physical science with “the Strength to Mass Ratio of Bridge Beam Pairs.” Michelle Ann Ellenburg of J.C. Booth Middle School took first place in biological science for “Is It Time Yet?”

Second place in the physical science division went to Danny William Owens of Rising Starr Middle School for his project, “Magneato.” Third place in biological science was earned by Chris Hugh Kragor of Rising Starr with “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (mouthwash).

The first place team in the junior division included Rising Starr students Haynes Finney, Dustin Hipp and Danny O'Shaughnessy for “Stretching Time.” Also placing first were Mary Burnes, Mallory Summers and Amanda Young, also from Rising Starr with “Preserving Potential.” The third place team hailed from Flat Rock Middle School and included Katherine Burnett, Sarah Denton and Jennifer Merrill with “Spotting Air Particle Pollution.”

The Eastman Kodak Company Photographic Award went to Amanda Baumgardner and Jennifer Burk of Starr's Mill.

The NACE International Award was given to Anna Fishman, Kathleen Powers and Ingrid Lawhorn, all of McIntosh. The Young Science Award was given to Michelle Ellenburg, Booth Middle School and Haynes Finney, Dustin Hipp and Danny O'Shaughnessy, all of Rising Starr.

The U.S. Air Force Award was given to Sammy Chang, Starr's Mill (first place). Jessica King, Fayette County High (third place) and Michael Koziol, Rising Starr (third place).