Awards

Regional and National Awards

Additionally, awards are provided to students throughout each fair. The following are all of the sponsors who recognize outstanding projects.

Award	Description	Grades Eligible
AgStar Financial Services, ACA	Outstanding agricultural-related projects from economics/mathematics, education, agronomy, animal science, conservation, wildlife, plants, energy, entomology, environmental science, soil science, forestry, horticulture, or veterinary medicine. (Medal and monetary award**.)	Grades 5 - 12
American Chemical Society	Monetary award** for Most Outstanding Chemistry Project which exemplifies good experimental work by the student, with replicate data and the proper usage of statistical methods, as selected by a member of the Minnesota ACS Section.	Grades 6 - 12*
Mankato A.M. Exchange Club (Dr. Gil Boerboom Memorial Award)	Outstanding Project First in Birds, then in Animal Science	Grades 3 - 12
Mankato Area Pharmaceutical Society	Outstanding Projects in the Area of Pharmacy	6 awards for grades 3 - 12
Minnesota Chapter of the American Fisheries Society	Fishing pole for each top Junior and Senior High Aquatic project.	One award for grades 9-12, One award for grades 6-8*
Minnesota State University, Mankato College of Science, Engineering, and Technology K-12 Outreach	Excellence in Problem Solving Award - The Problem Solvers awards come with a monetary award and a certificate of achievement. Paper presentations will be evaluated for components of research completed with sound scientific principles, such as appropriate experimental design, quality control, and or product development documentation, and for those studies exhibiting strong potential applicability to resolving issues faced by our global community. Up to 4 recipients may be selected, and judges are asked to consider the student’s performance in relation to the student’s grade level. Excellence in Communication Award - The Communications Outreach awards also come with a monetary award and a certificate of achievement. Recipients must demonstrate an exceptional capacity to communicate their results with outstanding visual presentation AND oral delivery. Papers will be evaluated on the visual presentation of data, clarity in data provided, thoroughness of material covered, and overall quality (including readability, use of color schemes, etc….). Up to 4 recipients may be selected, and judges are asked to consider the student’s performance in relation to the student’s grade level. Excellence in Problem Solving Project Award - The Problem Solvers awards come with a monetary award** and a certificate of achievement. Projects will be evaluated for components of research completed with sound scientific principles, such as appropriate experimental design, quality control, and or product development documentation, and for those studies exhibiting strong potential applicability to resolving issues faced by our global community. Up to 2 9th-12th grade and 4 6th-8th grade recipients may be selected, and judges are asked to consider the student’s performance in relation to the student’s grade level.	Several awards for grades 9-12, Several awards for grades 6-8*
Minnesota State University, Mankato Department of Biology	Monetary award** Outstanding Biology-Related, Investigative Project. Categories that can qualify include: Animal Sciences, Behavioral & Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Microbiology, Plant Sciences.	One award per category, grades 6 - 12*
Minnesota River Board	The purpose of the Minnesota River Board is to provide leadership, build partnerships, and support efforts to improve and protect water quality in the Minnesota River Basin. The MRB Award is presented to students whose projects exhibit excellence in water research. These projects may span diverse disciplines such as biology, chemistry, environmental science, health, or human behavior. Each project will be given a monetary award** and a framed certificate.	Grades 3 - 12
Minnesota State University, Mankato Biotechnology Club	Monetary award** to Projects with Biology Applied to Solve a Problem. Could Be Applied to Microbiology	Grades 6 - 12*
Minnesota State University, Mankato Department of Physics	Monetary award** for Most Outstanding Physics Project	Grades 6 - 12*
Tri-County Coalition of Lakes Association	The project must be about water quality, ie. buffers, filter strips, runoff, erosion, aquatic invasive species. A monetary award to the top project in Middle School and a monetary award to the top Senior High Project.	One award for grades 9-12, One award for grades 6-8*
American Meteorological Society	Certificate for Outstanding Achievement. Limited to the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences.	One award for grades 9-12, One award for grades 6-8*
American Psychological Association	Certificate for Outstanding Research in Psychology under the category of Behavioral and Social Sciences	One award for grades 9-12, One award for grades 6-8*
ASM Materials Education Foundation	Medallions and Certificates for Outstanding Projects in the Materials Engineering Area. Formal Certificate & Medallion to be mailed in July or August.	One award for grades 9-12, One award for grades 6-8*
Association for Women Geoscientists	Certificate for Outstanding Project by a Female Student in the Geosciences	One award for grades 9-12, One award for grades 6-8*
Intel Excellence in Computer Science	Monetary Award** and Certificate to Outstanding Projects in Computer Science. MUST BE A PROJECT IN COMPUTER SCIENCE CATEGORY!	One award for grades 9-12
ISEF	(Win an All-Expense Paid Trip to the 62nd Annual ISEF.)	One award for grades 9-12
I-SWEEEP	(This is awarded to top senior projects, selected in the categories of Energy, Engineering, or Environment who display outstanding work in the theme of environmental sustainability and innovation. The student(s) (two or less only) and supervisor teacher or parent will have the opportunity to attend I-SWEEEP 2013 that will be held in Houston, Texas May 8th-13th. The project is eligible to get a $1500 worth of I-SWEEEP scholarship. This scholarship will cover the following expenses of contestant(s) and one adult supervisor: Hotel accommodations for May 8-13, 2013, all breakfasts, pre-arranged luncheons and pre-arranged dinner receptions; local transportation; fees for trip organizations during the fair. THE SCHOLARSHIP DOES NOT COVER AIR FARE.)	One award for grades 9-12
Mu Alpha Theta	Certificate for the most Challenging, Thorough and Creative Investigation of a Problem Involving Mathematics Accessible to a High School Student.	One award for grades 9-12
National Society of Professional Engineers	Certificate, Lapel Pin and a chance to win a monetary award** in further competition For Outstanding Engineering Projects	One award for grades 6-12*
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration	The recipient will receive a certificate, letter of congratulations, and medal. The award will go to students selected from among all the general award categories whose research emphasizes NOAA's mission to understand & predict changes in the Earth’s environment & conserve & manage coastal & marine resources to meet our nation’s economic, social & environmental needs.	Several awards for grades 6-12*
Ricoh Americas Corporation	Certificate to outstanding projects addressing issues of environmental responsibility and sustainable development, the Greatest Potential for Increasing Our Ability to Grow Environmentally-Friendly and Socially Responsible Businesses	One award for grades 6-12*
Society for In Vitro Biology	Certificate awarded to the most outstanding student exhibiting in the areas of plant or animal in vitro biology or tissue culture.	11th grade only
Water Environment Federation	Folder and Certificate for Best Water-Related Project by a High School Student, Encourage winner(s) to enter the state SJWP competition. Can award up to 6 recipients.	One award for grades 9-12
U.S. Air Force	U.S. Air Force’s main judging criterion continues to focus on encouraging studies in the Math, Sciences and Engineering areas and, where possible, recognize projects that offer Air Force applicability.	One award for grades 9-12, One award for grades 6-8*
U.S. Army ROTC	Certificate of achievement in engineering, environmental sciences (earth & planetary or environmental), mathematics/computer science life science (behavioral & social sciences, medicine & health, microbiology, animal sciences, or plant sciences), physical sciences (biochemistry, chemistry, physics).	Several awards for grades 9-12
U.S. Metric Association	Certificates to Outstanding Projects Involving a Significant Amount of Metric Measurements	One award for grades 9-12, One award for grades 6-8*
U.S. Navy / U.S. Marine Corps	Projects that demonstrate abilities in the sciences and who have conveyed dedication, creativity and enthusiasm for continuing interests in the sciences or engineering. Monetary award**, Medallion and a Certificate	Several award for grades 9-12
U.S. Public Health Service	Medallion, Certificate, & Letter to outstanding projects in tobacco-free living, preventing drug abuse & excessive alcohol use, healthy eating, active living, injury & violence-free living, mental & emotional well being, reproductive & sexual health	Grades 6 - 12*
Yale Science and Engineering Association	Pewter Medallion and Certificate for Outstanding Exhibit in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or Chemistry Category	11th grade only
IRIS Awards	Outstanding Use of Photography in Explaining and/or Documenting a Project. Monetary Award & certificate 6th, 7th & 8th grade. Monetary award** & certificate 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th grade.	One award for grades 9-12, One award for grades 6-8*
Thin Film Technology / Mankato Area Foundation	Independent Research Awards for Researchers, Demonstrating Great Potential and Creativity	Grades 6 - 8*
CT Wang Family Awards	Monetary award for the best project of a first-year participant grades 9 - 12. Monetary award for the best project of a first-year participant grades 6 - 8. Monetary award for the best display board considering content and arrangement grades 9 - 12. Monetary award for the best display board considering content and arrangement grades 6 - 8. Monetary award** for an educator from Middle School or High School.	Two awards for grades 9-12, two awards for grades 6-8*
Janice Guldan Alternative Agriculture and Sustainability Award	Monetary award** to a project with a focus on non-commercial farming practice and/or sustainability in agriculture. If none, Project that Showed the Best Thinking Outside of the Box.	One award for grades 6-12*
Devina May Anderson Memorial Environmental Science Award	Monetary award** plus a plaque for Research Project Involving Natural Pesticides or Herbicides first, then Environmental Sciences.	One award for grades 9-12
Broadcom MASTERS Nominee	The Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) is a competition for 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students who participate in an SSP-affiliated fair. Nationally, the top 10% of 6th, 7th and 8th-grade participants at their SSP-affiliated science fairs have been selected for this honor. Congratulations on becoming a Broadcom MASTERS nominee! As a nominee, you are eligible to register and complete an online application to compete nationally for valuable prizes and awards including a monetary grand prize**. From these entrants, the top 300 Semifinalists will be announced in August 2013 and 30 finalists will be announced by early September. Finalists will win an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. in October 2013 to compete in the Broadcom MASTERS Finals.	One award for grades 6-8*
Purple Ribbon State Science & Engineering Fair Awards (projects)	Represents SC/SW MN Regions at the Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair.	Several awards for grades 6-12*
PURPLE Ribbon State Symposium Awards (papers)	Represents SC/SW MN Regions at the 44th Annual Tri-State Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.	Several awards for grades 6-12

* 6th-grade award is only available at the Junior High / High School division **Availablity of the monetary award is based on awards from previous years. Amount and availability of award is not guaranteed by the fair.

Ribbon awards are available for many projects. These ribbons come in four different tiers.

Top Tier - Purple Ribbon
Second Tier - Blue Ribbon
Third Tier - Red Ribbon
Fourth Tier - Green Ribbon

While both divisions are eligible for all four tiers of ribbons, only the junior high/high school division purple ribbons will advance to additional fairs.