(Black PR Wire) MIAMI, Fla. —  The Jessie Trice Community Health Foundation (JTCHF), in collaboration with Jessie Trice Community Health System (JTCHS) and St. Thomas University, proudly announced the winners of its 15th Annual Science and Engineering Fair held over the course of two days in Miami Gardens.

The student competition took place on January 21, from 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Thomas University. Approximately 100 students from participating schools arrived early to present original science and engineering projects. The awards ceremony was held on January 22, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.  at the JTCHS Barbara J. Jordan Health and Wellness Center, bringing together more than 300 students, parents, educators, and community leaders to celebrate academic excellence, innovation, and the future of science and technology.

“Seeing the excitement on the faces of the students and their parents was incredibly rewarding,” said David Williams Jr., vice chair of the JTCHF Board and founder of the Science and Engineering Fair. “This science fair means more than projects for the JTCHF Foundation; it’s about sparking curiosity, building confidence and showing the children of our community that their ideas matter.”

The awards ceremony was emceed by Suzette Speaks, a widely recognized media personality and community advocate. Students received cash prizes ranging from $50 to $750. In recognition of the vital role families play in student success, parents of first- through fifth-place winners received $100, while parents of sixth- through 10th-place winners received $50 on behalf of the JTCHF. A special highlight of the event was the presentation of the David Williams Jr. Science Award to six individuals in recognition of their dedication to advancing science education and strengthening STEM opportunities in the City of Miami Gardens.

Winners included:

Special Awards

• Thomas University Award ($750): Nataly, 4th Grade
• Annie Neasman/Jessie Trice Community Health System Award ($250): Lilly, 5th Grade
• Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Award ($250): Dezmond, 5th Grade
• Hermon AME Church Richard Allen Award ($250): Camryn, 2nd Grade
• Plunkett Family Environmental Sustainability Award in Memory of John E. Egleston ($250): Indiya, 5th Grade
• Sonshine Environmental Award ($200): Damarion, 3rd Grade
• The Shamrao Family “Discover Your Passion” First Place Award ($200): Maria Alonso, Science Liaison, North Dade Center for Modern Languages
• The Shamrao Family “Discover Your Passion” Second Place Award ($150): Cortnye Arce, Principal, Carol City Elementary
• Joseph L. Cook Community Award ($150): North Dade Center for Modern Languages
• Doris Hart Principal Award ($100): LaToya James-Edwards, Principal, North Dade Center for Modern Languages

Student Awards

• 1st Place: Lilly, 5th Grade
• 2nd Place: Chloe, 5th Grade
• 3rd Place: Dezmond, 5th Grade
• 4th Place: Kimiaa, 4th Grade
• 5th Place: Edwin, 3rd Grade
• 6th Place: Sarah, 5th Grade
• 7th Place: Brielle, 5th Grade
• 8th Place: D’Angelo, 4th Grade
• 9th Place: Micaiah, 5th Grade
• 10th Place: Brooklyn, 4th Grade

David Williams, Jr. Award Recipients

• Cortnye Arce, Assistant Principal, Carol City Elementary
• Paulette Murphy, Assistant City Manager, City of Miami Gardens
• Jeffrey A. Plunkett, Dean and Florida Blue Endowed Professor, St. Thomas University
• Fabian Thurston, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Jessie Trice Community Health System
• Lashawn Walker, Mathematics Instructional Coach, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
• Allison Worsham, Coordinator, Upward Bound, Daytona State College

Various schools from across North Miami-Dade participated in the Science and Engineering Fair, including Barbara Hawkins Elementary, Brentwood Elementary, Bunche Park Elementary, Carol City Elementary, Crestview Elementary, Golden Glades Elementary, Lake Stevens Elementary, Miami Gardens Elementary, Myrtle Grove K-8 Center, Nathan B. Young Elementary, Norland Elementary, North Dade Center for Modern Languages, North County K-8 Center, North Glade Elementary, Norwood Elementary, Rainbow Park Elementary, Robert Ingram Elementary, and Scott Lake Elementary.

The 15th Annual Science and Engineering Fair was made possible thanks to the generous support of community partners and sponsors, including Jessie Trice Community Health System, St. Thomas University, Black Sands Construction, Express Gene Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Gangs Alternative, ManageDoor, Mount Hermon AME Church, NAACP Miami-Dade, Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, Orthopaedic  Associates of Miami Lakes, Redevco, Sonshine Communications, The Light Preparatory Academy, The Resource Room, and others.

About the Jessie Trice Community Health Foundation (JTCHF)

Jessie Trice Community Health Foundation is a not-for profit 501(c)(3) organized in 1985 to promote the provision of medical care, treatment, and health education to the general public and to support Jessie Trice Community Health System’s initiatives to reach the underserved and uninsured population. For more information and to donate, visit www.jtchf.org.

About Jessie Trice Community Health System (JTCHS)

The Jessie Trice Community Health System is one of Miami-Dade County’s preeminent federally qualified community health care centers, governed by a remarkably dedicated Board of Directors (51% of which are users of the medical and dental services) and an incredibly talented, committed family of providers and staff. JTCHS knows and specializes in comprehensive health, offering a myriad of services to improve the health of the community. This includes: dentistry, family medicine, nutrition, behavioral health, transportation, pharmacy, healthy start, obstetric & gynecological care, school-based health, community health promotions, health & wellness center, pediatrics, and ancillary services. For more information on the Jessie Trice Community Health System, call 305-637-6400 or visit jtchs.org. In addition, to stay connected with news and information about their services and facilities, follow Jessie Trice Community Health System on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram @JessieTriceCHS.

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Photo Captions

Photo 1: David Williams Jr., vice chair of the Jessie Trice Community Health Foundation (JTCHF) Board and founder of the fair (center), poses with several winners of the 15th Annual JTCHF Science and Engineering Fair, held in Miami Gardens on January 21–22. (Photo by Ricardo Reyes, Sonshine Communications)

Photo 2: David Williams Jr. (left), vice chair of the Jessie Trice Community Health Foundation (JTCHF) Board, and Ryan R. Hawkins (right), president and CEO of Jessie Trice Community Health System, present a first-place award to a school representative accepting the prize on behalf of a student during the 15th Annual JTCHF Science and Engineering Fair in Miami Gardens. (Photo by Ricardo Reyes, Sonshine Communications)

Photo 3: Parents and students observe science projects on display in the lobby of the JTCHS Barbara J. Jordan Health and Wellness Center during the awards ceremony for the 15th Annual JTCHF Science and Engineering Fair in Miami Gardens. (Photo by Ricardo Reyes, Sonshine Communications)

Photo 4: Suzette Speaks, emcee of the awards ceremony for the 15th Annual JTCHF Science and Engineering Fair, addresses attendees. The award ceremony was held one day after the competition at the JTCHS Barbara J. Jordan Health and Wellness Center in Miami Gardens. (Photo by Ricardo Reyes, Sonshine Communications)

Photo 5: LaToya James-Edwards, principal of North Dade Center for Modern Languages, receives the Joseph L. Cook Community Award during the 15th Annual JTCHF Science and Engineering Fair Awards Ceremony. The award was presented to the school with the most projects placing in the top 10. (Photo by Ricardo Reyes, Sonshine Communications)

Photo 6: Dr. Fabian Thurston, EVP and chief operating officer, Jessie Trice Community Health System, receives the David Williams Jr. Science Award from David Williams Jr., vice chair of the JTCHF Board and founder of the Science and Engineering Fair during the award ceremony of the JTCHF 15th Annual Science and Engineering Fair. The award recognizes individuals for their commitment to advancing science education and strengthening STEM opportunities in the City of Miami Gardens. (Photo by Ricardo Reyes, Sonshine Communications)

Photo 7: Students present projects at the 15th Annual Science and Engineering Fair hosted by the Jessie Trice Community Health Foundation. The competition was held Jan. 21 at St. Thomas University. (Photo by Ricardo Reyes, Sonshine Communications)

Photo 8: Melody Miller, Jessie Trice Community Health Foundation board member and chair of the JTCHF Science and Engineering Fair Committee, poses with Jeffrey Alan Plunkett, Ph.D., dean and Florida Blue Endowed Professor in the College of Health Sciences and Technology at St. Thomas University, during the 15th Annual JTCHF Science and Engineering Fair on Jan. 21 at St. Thomas University. Plunkett was also a recipient of the David Williams Jr. Science Award. (Photo by Ricardo Reyes, Sonshine Communications)