Linkhorne, Dunbar, and Sandusky middle school students competed in the 2025 Central Virginia Regional Science Middle School Fair (CVRSF) on May 14, 2025, at Heritage High School. Eighty-six students from public and private schools in the City of Lynchburg and Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell counties participated.
The following students won awards at the regional level:
CVRSF Category Winners
Chemistry
- 1st place: Zachary Bauer, Linkhorne Middle School (LMS)
- 2nd place: Charlotte Rhem and Danielle Boyers, LMS
Electricity
- 2nd place: Oliver Brunett and James Flavin, LMS
- 3rd place: Hugh Basten and Victoria Jones, Dunbar Middle School (DMS)
Engineering
- 2nd place: Joseph Crosby, DMS
Environmental Science
- 1st place: Alice Hansen, DMS
- 2nd place: Ryzon Vasquez, LMS
- 3rd place: Wyatt Boyd, DMS
Physics
- 1st place: Mason Campbell, DMS
- 3rd place: Jamerson Minkler, DMS
Plant Science
- 1st place: Virginia Phillips, DMS
CVRSF Special Awards
Virginia Lakes & Watersheds Association Award
Highlights the best project featuring research about protecting the quality and uses of Virginia’s water resources and watersheds.
- Ryzon Vasquez, LMS
National Biology Teachers’ Awards
Recognizes excellence in research investigating biological and environmental questions.
- Virginia Phillips, DMS
- Alice Hansen, DMS
Lynchburg Dental Society Awards
Recognizes the best overall research in terms of design, curiosity, and presentation.
- Alice Hansen, DMS
- Zachary Bauer, LMS
U.S. Air Force Award
Honors an outstanding science and engineering project.
- Mason Campbell, DMS
National Contest Nominees
Seven Linkhorne and Dunbar middle school students were nominated to apply for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC), the nation’s premier STEM research competition for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. This honor is reserved for the top 10% of CVRSF competitors.
The top 300 candidates from affiliated fairs across the country will receive a prize of $125. From there, 30 finalists will be selected to compete for more than $100,000 in prizes, including a top prize of $25,000 and scholarships for STEM summer camps. Each finalist’s school will receive $1,000.
The following students were nominated to apply for the JIC:
Chemistry
- Zachary Bauer, LMS
- Charlotte Rhem and Danielle Boyers, LMS
Environmental Science
- Alice Hansen, DMS
- Ryzon Vasquez, LMS
Physics
- Mason Campbell, DMS
Plant Science
- Virginia Phillips, DMS