Wednesday, April 23, 2025
@ Northville High School

STUDENT PRESENTATION JUDGING & PRIZES

KINDERGARTEN to 3rd GRADE | PROJECT CRITERIA

Kindergarten to third grade students may work alone or with a group of up to 4 total students.

All participants in Kindergarten through 3rd grade will receive a t-shirt and certificate for participating in STEAM FAIR. There is no project judging for our K-3 students.

GRADE 5 | PROJECT CRITERIA

Expanding upon the “Invention Convention” projects 5th grade students work on in their STEAM Classes, 5th graders are encouraged to solve a problem using STEAM. Awards will be given to 5th graders in 5 categories, each with a $100 gift card prize. Students may work alone or with a group of up to 4 total students.

Each project will be evaluated by judges to determine prize winners in the following categories:

MOST ENGAGING IN-PERSON PRESENTATION
This category is all about your presentation, both visual aids and your personal pitch! The winning project will have the most engaging presentation that explains their project, answers impromptu questions and sells their idea. Think about the charisma required on the TV show Shark Tank!

MOST INNOVATIVE IDEA
Maybe it’s something that’s never been thought of before, or a brand new way of solving a long-term challenge. This idea doesn’t necessarily need to be ready to build today, but it’s an idea that is innovative and can make a big impact!

STRONGEST READY TO BUILD SOLUTION
This is the idea that could be rolled out to the world today! It doesn’t require any new technology to be invented, and any questions about the idea can be fully answered by the presenters.

MOST IMPACTFUL SOLUTION
Which idea will have the biggest impact on the community it’s intended to serve? Whether it’s an audience of one, a local community or something worldwide, which project can demonstrate that it will have a significant impact on solving a challenge?

FAVORITE PROJECT
Which project is the overall favorite of the judges? Maybe there’s an X-factor that wasn’t included in the other categories, maybe there’s something special that catches a judge’s eye. This category is wide open for the judges to use their discretion!

All project evaluation will include the following requirements:

  • Projects must have a visual presentation and team member(s) present to give an in-person explanation

  • Projects must clearly identify and explain the problem or challenge they’re trying to address

  • Projects must clearly identify how their solution addresses their stated challenge or problem

  • Projects must include a new, innovative idea or concept, or repurpose existing concepts or technology in a new way to address a challenge

MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 6-8 | PROJECT CRITERIA

Working alone or with a group of up to 4 total students, middle school students are encouraged to “Solve a Challenge in Your Community” using STEAM concepts. This may mean educating your peers and local community about a STEAM topic, inventing a solution to a challenge in your region, state or country, or even an idea that has an impact on a global scale! Three awards will be given at the middle school level, each with a monetary scholarship prize.

Each project will be evaluated to determine an overall First Prize Winner ($500 scholarship), Runner Up ($300 scholarship) and Judge’s Favorite ($200 Scholarship) amongst all 6th, 7th and 8th grade entries.

All judging will include the following requirements:

  • Projects must have a visual presentation and team member(s) present to give an in-person explanation

  • Projects must clearly identify and explain the problem or challenge they’re trying to address

  • Projects must clearly identify how their solution addresses their stated challenge or problem

  • Projects must include a new, innovative idea or concept, or repurpose existing concepts or technology in a new way to address a challenge

HIGH SCHOOL GRADES 9-12 | PROJECT CRITERIA

Working alone or with a group of up to 4 total students, high school students are encouraged to “Solve a Challenge in Your Community” using STEAM concepts. This may mean educating your peers and local community about a STEAM topic, inventing a solution to a challenge in your region, state or country, or even an idea that has an impact on a global scale! Three awards will be given at the high school level, each with a monetary scholarship prize.

Each project will be evaluated to determine an overall First Prize Winner ($1,000 scholarship), Runner Up ($600 scholarship) and Judge’s Favorite ($400 Scholarship) amongst all 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade entries.

All judging will include the following requirements:

  • Projects must have a visual presentation and team member(s) present to give an in-person explanation

  • Projects must clearly identify and explain the problem or challenge they’re trying to address

  • Projects must clearly identify how their solution addresses their stated challenge or problem

  • Projects must include a new, innovative idea or concept, or repurpose existing concepts or technology in a new way to address a challenge

Thank you to our 2025 STEAM Fair Sponsors