KING GEORGE, Va. –
When several Dahlgren employees arrived at King George Middle School (KGMS) to judge the science fair Jan. 31, the tables were turned and they became the students.
KGMS science department head Sheri Sanders addressed the representatives from the base and explained the guidelines for judging the fair.
All 51 of the projects were judged and 20 students were selected to advance to the Piedmont Regional Science Fair March 4 in Charlottesville.
“I think it is great to be part of this and to give back to the local community any way that we can,” said Cmdr. Brian Koch, Executive Officer at Naval Support Activity South Potomac. “It is great to give the students the opportunity to speak to us about all the hard work they’ve put into it, their thought process and methodology. I look forward to doing this again next year.”
The students’ projects were rated on a five-point scale in five categories – accuracy, content knowledge, thoroughness, neatness and originality.
Dahlgren personnel helped select the top two winners in 17 different categories. They also picked the 2023 KGMS Best in Show recipient, sixth-grader Mila McGarvey, who earned the award for her project on cookie sizing.
The employees left impressed with the projects, which ranged from simple to complex.
“Overall, the efforts put forth by the King George Middle School students demonstrated incredible talent and potential, which I am excited to see realized going forward,” said Julie Grossen, a branch head in the Weapons Control and Integration Department at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD). “It was a great opportunity for me to see the excitement and enthusiasm these kids had for their projects. They brought their scientific curiosity to their hobbies and passions and shared that with the judges.”
Sanders said it was an honor for the students to receive feedback from the Dahlgren employees. “We are excited to have Dahlgren personnel judge our science fair and help support these students in becoming future scientists,” Sanders said. “It is a complete asset to have Dahlgren here. We value the many opportunities they present to us. They support our efforts with SeaPerch and robotics, as well. It helps build future scientists who may go on to work at Dahlgren one day.”
The NSWCDD STEM outreach program, which resides in the division’s Chief Technology Office, coordinates volunteers from the workforce to participate in science fairs and other fun and engaging events across the region.