About the Award
This award, established in 2023, is for outstanding, current science and engineering fair educators who have advanced students to the state level Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair. Nominations for this award can be submitted by current or former students, teachers, or administrators. Nominees exemplify the following qualities: sparked scientific interest in students who have lacked such interest prior to exposure to science fair; initiated science fair in a school that has never or not in a long time participated in science fair; participated in science fair for 5 or more years; had regional or above science fair winners.
About Dr. Christina McDaniel
Dr. Christina McDaniel wholeheartedly believed that science fair could truly improve society by allowing students to explore, firsthand, the wonders of science. From 2006 to 2012 at Ackerman High School, Christina initiated an exceptional science fair program that had been lacking for numerous years. In 2012, she became the Region V Science Fair Director in Mississippi. Over the 5 years that she served as director, this program witnessed a near doubling of student participants, numerous international science fair finalists, and more than a 25% increase in the number of schools participating. Additionally, she served as the Advisory Council Chair of the International Science and Engineering Fair from 2015-2017. Amazingly, she accomplished all of this while also obtaining her PhD on the importance of science fair programs in science education and while working as an instructor in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education at Mississippi State University.
Previous Recipients
2024 – Katie Greenwell, Starkville Christian School
2023 – Jody McIntosh, Cleveland Central High School