The Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools Office (TCSOS) proudly hosted the 2025 STEAM Expo & Science Fair on March 19, bringing together over 100 student projects, dozens of community partners, and a full house of curious minds. The event showcased the creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration driving Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) in our local schools.
“The STEAM Expo is a place where imagination meets application,” said Dave Harris, TCSOS STEM Coordinator “It’s more than a science fair—it’s a celebration of how learning comes alive when students explore ideas that matter to them.”
Community Meets Curiosity
The Expo was open to the public and featured hands-on exhibits from regional partners. Attendees could extract DNA, test flight simulators, compost with confidence, and even build catapults.
Featured exhibits included:
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Tuolumne River Trust – Augmented reality sand table on erosion & watershed flow
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Columbia College’s Mad Science Collective – DNA extraction, motors, and microscopes
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Aviation Explorers Program – Flight simulator and wind tunnel demos
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Tuolumne Public Health – The science of making healthy choices
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4-H County Ambassadors, Tuolumne County Arts, and many more
Spotlight on Student Projects
Students submitted over 100 projects from eight local schools—ranging from robotics and scientific illustrations to Rube Goldberg devices and science fiction writing. Of those, 42 entries competed in the official Science Fair under categories including Earth Science, Life Science, Physical/Chemical Science, and Engineering Design.
🏅 This year’s Best of Show winners:
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Junior Division: Garrick Spangler (Soulsbyville Elementary) – Fire & Ice: Temperature & Magnets
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Senior Division: Aurie Byer (Sonora High) – Air Pollutants Caused by Candles
Full award listings are included in the press release available in the sidebar.
Event Gallery: Moments of Discovery
From proud award-winners to hands-on learning in action, the 2025 STEAM Expo was filled with unforgettable moments.
A close-up of the functional water wheel generator built for Trevor Flud’s award-winning science fair project at the Tuolumne County STEAM Expo 2025. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS.
Rangers from the U.S. Forest Service provide resources and fire safety education to families at the 2025 Tuolumne County STEAM Expo. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS.
A U.S. Forest Service ranger displays educational materials on emergency response during the Tuolumne County STEAM Expo 2025. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS.
Trevor Flud’s science project on hydropower explores renewable energy potential. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS.
A detailed look at the skeletal hand model used for anatomical study. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS.
Students explore anatomy with an interactive skeletal hand model. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS.
A young student constructs an elaborate wooden structure on the floor, showcasing engineering curiosity. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS.
A young participant adds to her whimsical creation at the "Unstable Table" exhibit, exploring balance, motion, and design through interactive art.
Close-up of an anti-vape and smoke-free awareness activity. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS.
Students express creativity while learning about environmental health. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS.
A volunteer leads a hands-on DNA extraction experiment using strawberries. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Young participants explore science through hands-on experimentation. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS.
Students use lab tools to explore DNA extraction during a biology activity.
Students engage with a color-coded robotics demonstration during the event.
Smokey Bear reminds attendees that only you can prevent wildfires.
A project recognized with a red ribbon at the Tuolumne County Science & Engineering Fair.
A detailed look at common Sierra Nevada cone-bearing trees and the anatomy of a tree round.
Madilyn Andrews’ Life Science project studied the effects of stress on the human body. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Gold ribbons recognized standout excellence in scientific research and communication. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Garrick Spangler’s Fire & Ice project explored how temperature affects magnetic strength. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
A mountaineer-inspired design, El Jackitan offered a creative solution to wilderness lodging. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Diana Harford guides a young engineer during a Kiva block building activity. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Details like this working bridge deck made Hot Hotel one of the most memorable engineering projects of the evening. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Cash Brand’s Hot Hotel bridge project earned 2nd Place in Junior Engineering Design. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Carter Hard’s Wasp House earned 1st Place in Junior Engineering Design at the 2025 STEAM Expo. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Blue ribbons were awarded to students who excelled in scientific thinking and presentation. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Student participants were recognized for their creativity, effort, and exploration at the 2025 STEAM Expo. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Honorable Mention recipients were celebrated for creativity, experimentation, and enthusiasm in their projects. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
The 2025 STEAM Spirit Award recognized excellence in integrated, cross-discipline project design. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Aurie Byer's award-winning project investigated particulate pollutants from different candle types. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
A Tuolumne County 4-H Ambassador explains the mechanics behind a student-built catapult. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
4-H challenged students to use engineering and aim to knock down mini pins using custom-built catapults. Photo by Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Thomas Andrews’ project, What Burns the Longest???, tested common fire-starting materials and earned Honorable Mention in the Physical Science category at the 2025 TCSOS STEAM Expo. Photo credit: Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Educator Tricia Dunlap shares a moment of discovery with a young participant during her Unstable Tables activity at the 2025 TCSOS STEAM Expo. Photo credit: Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Students explore watershed and erosion science with the Tuolumne River Trust’s interactive sand table. Photo credit: Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Hayden Groff shows off a color-sorting robot during the 2025 STEAM Expo. Photo credit: Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Visitors examine award-winning science fair projects during the 2025 TCSOS STEAM Expo, including The Slime’s Compass: Environmental Navigation in Physarum and Music & Mood, both standout entries in the Life Science category. Photo credit: Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Aurie Byer receives the Best in Show award in the Senior Division at the 2025 STEAM Expo. Photo credit: Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Caleb Milbourn of Soulsbyville Elementary beams with pride after earning 2nd Place in Junior Physical Science/Chemistry at the 2025 TCSOS STEAM Expo & Science Fair. Photo credit: Shannon Oden – TCSOS.
Garrick Spangler proudly displays his first-place plaque at the 2025 STEAM Expo. Photo Credit: Shannon Oden – TCSOS
Madilyn Andrews beams with pride as she receives First Place in the Junior Life Science category during the 2025 Tuolumne County STEAM Expo. Photo Credit: Shannon Oden – TCSOS
Carter Hard beams with pride after receiving first place in Engineering Design and a summer scholarship to Tech Camp. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS
Columbia Elementary’s Trevor Flud takes home first place for his hydropower science project. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS
Garrick Spangler celebrates his Best in Show award at the 2025 Tuolumne County Science & Engineering Fair. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS
With guidance from Aviation Explorers, students took the captain’s seat at a real flight simulator. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS
Young explorers reshape mountains and valleys in an augmented reality sandbox. Photo credit: Shannon Oden — TCSOS