Congratulations to the first place winners of the Florida State Science & Engineering Fair

Mahie Patil (left), from Orlando Science High School won first place in Behavioral & Social Sciences and was one of the Grand Award winners as well. Clara Martins De Bellis Silva, from Horizon High School won first place in Physics and Astronomy.

Good luck to five students from the Dr. Nelson Ying Orange County Science Exposition who will be competing in the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona, May 10-15, 2026.

From left to right: Aakash Manaswi, from Lake Highland Preparatory School; Aarit Dixit and Aditi Swain, from Orlando Science High School; Marie Garcia, from Lake Highland Preparatory School. Marie was the Ying Expo Alternate in Biological Sciences, and since Mahie Patil (above) won a Grand Award, which includes a trip to ISEF, at the Florida State Science & Engineering Fair, Marie gets to take her place as the Ying Expo representative. Congratulations Marie, and to all the students who were successful this year in science fair!