West Columbia, S.C – Four of East Point Academy East Point Academy students took home big awards from the 2018 Region II Science and Engineering. Science fairs provide a tremendous opportunity for students to learn more about their world and how things work.

Lily Stewart – who is no newcomer to the science fair – won “Best of 8th Grade Science Project” for creating a life straw water filtration system. Lily has been participating in the Region II Science and Engineering Fair since the 4th grade, taking home awards every single year. “Lily is a scientist, inventor, architect, engineer and all things hands on.   She loves learning new things and as her parents, we are so proud. We can’t wait to see what her future holds,” said Lily’s mom, Tara Stewart.

Sylvana Knapp, 5th grader, was the most decorated winner this year – taking home awards in multiple categories, including: “1st place for Junior Division – General Science” and “Best 5th Grade Project.” Sylvana’s mom was beaming with joy, stating, “What a proud moment to see Sylvana presenting her science project to the group of final judges and answering their questions on her own! Thank you, EPA, for providing this opportunity!”

Dad of Zoe Partin, winner of the Rosewood Market Environmental Award, said “We are proud of Zoe and her hard work and inquisitiveness. The Regional Science Fair gives students a great opportunity to learn real life scientific problem solving.”

Also, among the East Point Academy winners was Sophie Martin, who won 3rd place in the Medicine and Health category – for her project about whether age affects taste, specifically related to the presence of wheat in foods.

East Point Academy, founded in 2011, is a Mandarin immersion public charter school in West Columbia, S.C., serving nearly 500 students in preschool through eighth grade. EPA students receive half of their daily instruction in Mandarin Chinese. The school is tuition free and open to all students in S.C., regardless of their zoned district.