History

The first San Luis Valley Regional Science Fair (SLVRSF) took place on the Adams State College campus (ASC, as it was known then) in 1949.  Fairs were held in the historic Math and Science Building.  In these formative years, directors were department heads and volunteers consisted of faculty and work study students.  In 1979, a group of community leaders and ASC professors organized a Board of Trustees and the Fair was moved to the Plachy Hall Fieldhouse, as the number of student exhibits had outgrown the old math and science building.  Additionally, the Trustees began utilizing marketing and community-based fundraising to promote academic excellence and support Fair operations.  Non-profit status was granted by the IRS in 1981.

Another important partnership for the SLVRSF was sponsorship by the SLV Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in 1985.  BOCES provided critical in-kind donations in the form of office space and salaried personnel to help organize the fair.  Today, the SLVRSF office is still headquartered at the BOCES building and now employs a full-time Director.

Each school district in the Valley appoints one or more fair coordinators for their schools.  The coordinators are responsible for helping students develop science projects and administer their local school fairs.  Winners of local fairs (where held) then advance to the SLVRSF, but students may opt to register directly with the SLVRSF if their school doesn’t offer a local Fair.  Projects are entered in one of eleven Categories:  Behavioral and Social Sciences, Biomedical Science, Botany, Chemistry, Consumer Sciences, Earth and Space Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics and Computers, Physics, and Zoology.

Winners from each Division (Elementary, Junior, and Senior) and Category are presented monetary awards and ribbons.  There are also Special Awards from local, state, and national organizations that wish to recognize and support the hard work of our young scientists.  In a typical year, over $30,000 is awarded to students in the form of cash awards, scholarships, and summer internships.  From the pool of winning projects at the SLVRSF, twenty-four junior and senior high students advance to the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF), which is held in early April in Ft Collins, Colorado.  Two Senior Division students with outstanding projects are awarded an all-expense paid trip to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) to represent the SLVRSF.  Adult Sponsors of these students also attend ISEF as chaperones, and are partially funded by the SLVRSF.

Today, professors from Adams State University, upper division students and a large contingent of professional and specialist community members serve as judges and volunteer their expertise for this two day event.  Students receive valuable and authentic scientific feedback from Fair judges as they conduct their interviews and interact with their peers.

The SLVRSF is successful because of the dedication and critical support from parents, teachers, school districts, university and community professionals, and most especially our financial Contributors who provide the funding to make the SLVRSF possible.  There is a true spirit of volunteerism from all corners of the San Luis Valley, and we hope to continue to inspire and support our young scientists for many years to come!