Los Alamos Middle School seventh graders Mason Garcia and Andrew Gilbertson were both recipients of the Oppenheimer Memorial Fund Award for their science fair projects. Courtesy/LAPS

LAPS News:

Congratulations to the 2026 Northeastern New Mexico Science & Engineering Fair award winners.

First-, second-, and third-place winners will compete in April at the New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair at New Mexico Tech. 

Best In Show: Junior Division

• Andrew Gilbertson, “Detecting Exoplanets with Python and PyTorch”

Best in Show Senior Division Runners-up

• 1st Alternate: Linus Plohr, “Collective Intelligence: Driving Lessons from Ants”
• 2nd Alternate: Julia Neale, “The Effects of Chemicals on Stem Cell Regeneration in Planarians”

Category Awards: Junior Division

• Animal Science
  • 2nd place: Aurora Roberts Voss, Barranca Mesa Elementary School
• Behavioral Science
  • Honorable Mention: Matilde Ribeiro, Mountain Elementary School
• Biomedical and Health Sciences
  • 1st place: Sequoya Ke, Los Alamos Middle School
• Cellular and Microbiology
  • 1st place: Evelyn Fobes, Los Alamos Middle School
  • 2nd place: Lily Neale, Barranca Mesa Elementary School
• Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • 3rd place: James Junghans, Los Alamos Middle School
• Engineering Technology
  • 1st place: Daniel Yampolsky, Los Alamos Middle School
  • 2nd place: Ernest Maupin, Mountain Elementary School
  • 3rd place: Sydney Chen, Barranca Mesa Elementary School
• Math and Computer Science
  • 1st place: Viviana Daly, Chamisa Elementary School
  • 2nd: place Henry Rodarte, Barranca Mesa Elementary School
  • 3rd place: Nejan Liyanage, Mountain Elementary School
• Physics and Astronomy
  • 1st place: Andrew Gilbertson, Los Alamos Middle School
  • 2nd place: Mason Garcia, Los Alamos Middle School
  • 3rd place: Mary Beth Kelsey, Barranca Mesa Elementary School
• Plant Science
  • 1st place: Glyn Lo, Mountain Elementary School
• Sustainable Materials and Design
  • 2nd place: Brandon Keller, Los Alamos Middle School

Category Awards: Senior Division

• Behavioral Science
  • 1st place: Linus Plohr, Los Alamos High School
• Cellular and Microbiology
  • 1st place: Julia Neale, Los Alamos High School
• Material Science
  • 1st place: Lilia Viteva, Los Alamos High School
• Math and Computer Science
  • 1st place: Helena Welch & Kalliope Welch, Homeschool/Combined Ed
• Physics and Astronomy
  • 2nd place: Tate Plohr, Los Alamos High School

Master Judge Honorable Mentions

• Junior Division: Evelyn Fobes, Los Alamos Middle School, “Extractic Park”

Los Alamos High School freshman Julia Neale, received the Regeneron Biomedical Science Award for her project. Courtesy/LAPS

Special Awards

• • • • • • • Oppenheimer Memorial Fund
              • Andrew Gilbertson, Los Alamos Middle School, “Detecting Exoplanets with Python and PyTorch”
              • Mason Garcia, Los Alamos Middle School, “Analyzing the Meteor Impacts on Mercury”
              • Henry Rodarte, Barranca Mesa Elementary School, “Predicting the Winner of the Super Bowl Using Math”
              • Brandon Keller, Los Alamos Middle School, “Phantom Power: Unmasking Hidden Energy Vampires”

• • • • • • • DesertGate Internet
              • Eisley Connell, Chamisa Elementary School, “Can Humans Recognize AI Images”
            • Regeneron Biomedical Science Award
              • Julia Neale, Los Alamos High School, “The Effects of Chemicals on Stem Cell Regeneration in Planarians”