WSSEF Awards:
Every individual or team project is evaluated by WSSEF judges against the judging criteria. Judging is completed by interviews with students, reviewing project displays and examining project results. Projects are scored on their individual merits meaning that multiple first place, second place, etc. student awards are presented. Students are recognized solely on their knowledge and presentation of their subject material, without regards to geographic location, personal background, gender, race, ethnicity or identification. For more information on judging, see judging criteria.
Every student attending the WSSEF receives a participation ribbon.
Grades 1 – 8 WSSEF Awards:
- First Place: Blue Ribbon and First Place Trophy
- Second Place: Red Ribbon
- Third Place: White Ribbon
- Honorable Mention: Green Ribbon
Best of Category Award for each grade: One project among the First Place recipients in each grade will be selected to receive the Best of Category Award. In the event a team is chosen, each team member will receive an engraved special award.
Grades 9 – 12 WSSEF Awards:
Judges will be assigned to judge all individual and team projects within one of the following categories. Click on the categories and subcategory definitions.
Animal Sciences (ANIM)
Behavioral and Social Sciences (BEHA)
Biochemistry (BCHM)
Biomedical and Health Sciences (BMED)
Biomedical Engineering (ENBM)
Cellular and Molecular Biology (CELL)
Chemistry (CHEM)
Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CBIO)
Earth and Environmental Sciences (EAEV)
Embedded Systems (EBED)
Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design (EGSD)
Engineering Technology: Statics and Dynamics (ETSD)
Environmental Engineering (ENEV)
Materials Science (MATS)
Mathematics (MATH)
Microbiology (MCRO)
Physics and Astronomy (PHYS)
Plant Sciences (PLNT)
Robotics and Intelligent Machines (ROBO)
Systems Software (SOFT)
Technology Enhances the Arts (TECA)
Translational Medical Science (TMED)
Students in Grades 9 – 12 can be rewarded with:
- First Place: Blue Ribbon Rosette and First Place Trophy
- Second Place: Red Ribbon
- Third Place: White Ribbon
- Honorable Mention: Green Ribbon
Students grade 9 – 12 are eligible for special judging and selection to represent Washington State and the WSSEF at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The selected projects, including all team members, receive an all-inclusive trip to the ISEF.
Gwen Croswaite Washington State Science Student of the Year Grades 1 -6
In honor of the WSSEF Founder, this award recognizes an exceptional student of science in Grades 1 – 6. The student chosen to receive this award has demonstrated ambition and ability beyond their peers in their grade level.
C.J. Croswaite Washington State Science Student of the Year Grades 7 – 8
Gwen Croswaite founded this award in recognition of her son who was a science fair student and later retuned to judge for 25 years. The award recognizes an exceptional student of science in Grades 7 – 8 demonstrating ambition and ability beyond their peers in their grade level.
People’s Choice Award
This award is presented to the best student presentation from Grades 1 through 6 as chosen by their peers and attendants. All students entered in the fair, their parents and their teachers were eligible to vote on this award.
Washington State Science & Engineering Fair Science Teacher of the Year
The Washington State Science & Engineering Fair is proud to present this award to an outstanding science or engineering teacher from a participating school. Nominations are encouraged by students, parents, a principal, department head or peer. The nomination packet preferably includes letter(s) of endorsement and a teaching biography or resume if available. Click HERE to nominate your teacher for this award.
Washington State Grand Championship Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards
High school individual and team projects are both eligible to earn the WSSEF Grand Champion Awards (Gold, Silver and Bronze). The top projects (either individual or team) are selected during the first round of judging. The candidates identified for further consideration during the first round of judging will be interviewed and ranked by the Grand Champion Awards Judging Team to determine the WSSEF Grand Champion Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards.
The WSSEF Grand Champion Awards Judging Team selects multiple projects to compete at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). In addition, WSSEF may elect to send additional projects as student observers. All students selected for ISEF will be announced at the Awards Ceremony. Students selected need to meet after the awards ceremony for further instructions; inability to do so may prevent your attendance at ISEF. Students are required to complete the ISEF registration process immediately following the Fair. For more information, contact WSSEF Fair Director.