The Chandler Innovation Fair (CIF) on February 19 was an incredible success. CIF featured student innovation as the cornerstone of the event, including the Hamilton Invitational Science and Engineering Fair research and projects, student inventions, project-based learning presentations, computer science projects, and robotics showcases.

Congratulations to the winners of this year's Chandler Innovation Fair (CIF) competition. Thanks to the CIF sponsors, Northrop Grumman, Intel, Waste Management and First Things First, the City of Chandler and the Chandler Unified School District will award six teams with a $500 scholarship award, going toward the winning school/organization science club or nonprofit organization. These teams will be recognized at an upcoming Chandler City Council Study Session:

• ACP High School - Creative
• Anderson Junior High - Educational
• Basha Science is Fun - Passionate
• Degrees of Freedom - Passionate
• Hamilton Art Club - Creative
• Knox Gifted Academy - Educational

Students from ACP Erie, Basha, Chandler and Hamilton high schools provided interactive exhibits at the Chandler Science Spectacular on February 8. Our STEM partners at Si Se Puede were also present.

The first Chandler Innovation Fair (CIF) was an incredible success. More than 3,500 students were represented at the event, with over 5,000 people in attendance. CIF featured 50 interactive STEM booths run by community partners and CTE programs. Every CUSD school and most CTE programs were represented. Besides having interactive booths, CTE had a car show, computer science challenge using Microbit/Microbots, engineering boat races, culinary cooking demos, a sports medicine tape-off and quiz bowl, and a digital photography competition.

Superintendent Camille Casteel was a keynote speaker and helped award more than 100 students for their incredible science fair projects during the cornerstone event, the Hamilton Invitational Science and Engineering Fair (HISEF). Additionally, special awards were given to innovative projects in all event categories presented by Intel, Waymo, the City of Chandler, Grand Canyon University, Northrop Grumman, StateFarm, and SRP.

Conley Elementary fifth grade students, The Circuit Breakers, from John Flores' class won the VEX IQ robotics tournament, Auxier Elementary students from Curt Landon's team won the VEX IQ Next Level robotics scrimmage, and Galveston students, team All A-Bot-It, from Dana Shaw, Jasmine Galloway, and Brian Romero team won the First LEGO League tournament. The whole day was a true celebration of science and STEM.

The Chandler Innovation Fair wouldn't have been the success it was without all of our teachers, students, families, and community support. A special thank you to everyone involved.