Image CaptionThe 2026 Diocesan Science & Engineering Fair, held Feb. 7 at Juan Diego Catholic High School, drew 178 students from 13 Utah Catholic Schools. The top winners of the event, which has been sponsored by the Utah Knights of Columbus for 30 years, follow. Young Scientist of the Year
Emma Ashby, Blessed Sacrament
Special Awards
Frances Lavoie Culture of Life: Sarah Leng and Paul Claudon, Juan Diego
Most Unique Visual Display: Corinne Gray, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial
Best Working Model: Tyce Sanders, St. John the Baptist
Best Oral Presentation: Ella Lanspa, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial
Best Use of Mathematics: Catherine Fuller, St. John the Baptist
Overall Category Awards
Behavioral and Social Science: Drake Stitzer, St. Francis Xavier
Biology, Microbiology, and Genetics: Ella Lanspa, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial
Chemistry and Biochemistry: Olivia Stewart, St. John the Baptist
Computer Science and Computational Methods: Jad Alharethi, St. John the Baptist
Earth and Environmental Science/Engineering: Lev Burtsev, Our Lady of Lourdes
Engineering – Civil, Electrical, Mechanical or Materials: Corinne Gray, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial
Medicine, Health Science, and Biomedical Engineering: Catherine Fuller, St. John the Baptist 
Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics: Emma Ashby, Blessed Sacrament
Overall Grade Awards
5th Grade Overall: Lincoln Done, St. Marguerite
5th Grade Honorable Mention: Elias Chandler and Westley Jimenez, St. Marguerite
6th Grade Overall: Emma Ashby, Blessed Sacrament
6th Grade Honorable Mention: Drake Stitzer, St. Francis Xavier
7th Grade Overall: Katherine Lanspa, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial
7th Grade Honorable Mention: Olivia Stewart, St. John the Baptist 
8th Grade Overall: Lev Burtsev, Our Lady of Lourdes
8th Grade Honorable Mention: Nathan Rivet, St. John the Baptist 
Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Awards
Behavioral and Social Science
first place: Drake Stitzer, St. Francis Xavier; second place: Mackenzie Doveton, St. John the Baptist; third place: Avery Stever, St. John the Baptist Middle; fourth place: Sofia Sanchez E, St. John the Baptist 
Biology, Microbiology, and Genetics
first place: Connor Vargo, St. Francis Xavier; second place: Clara Godoy, St. Francis Xavier; third place: Reneeclaire Omale, St. Francis Xavier; fourth place: Cecilia Miller, St. Francis Xavier
Chemistry and Biochemistry
first place: Maximus Padilla, St. Francis Xavier; second place: Mya Gill, St. John the Baptist; third place: Isla Coan, St. John the Baptist Middle; fourth place: Zachary Julian, Blessed Sacrament
Earth and Environmental Science/Engineering
First place: Naya Alharethi, St. John the Baptist; second place: Maddox Peirce, Blessed Sacrament; third place: Zach Beall, St. John the Baptist; fourth place: Berlin Hansen, Blessed Sacrament
Engineering – Civil, Electrical, Mechanical or Materials
first place: Diarmuid Arndt, St. John the Baptist; second place: Sienna Andersen, St. John the Baptist; third place: Violet Jenkins, St. Marguerite; fourth place: Luis Dariel Gamez-Marcial, St. Francis Xavier
Medicine, Health Science, and Biomedical Engineering
first place: Lincoln Enright, St. John the Baptist Middle; second place: Elijah Phillip, St. Francis Xavier; third place: Aglae Salinas, St. Francis Xavier; fourth place: Stella Cutler, St. John the Baptist
Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics
first place: Emma Ashby, Blessed Sacrament; second place: Elias Chandler and Westley Jimenez, St. Marguerite       
Seventh-Grade Awards
Behavioral and Social Science
first place: Paisley Hansen, St. Joseph Elementary; second place: Lily Edmondson, St. Joseph Elementary; third place: Zoe Claudon, St. John the Baptist; fourth place: Sofia Flanery, St. John the Baptist 
Biology, Microbiology, and Genetics
first place: Aidan Joe, St. John the Baptist Middle; second place: Aviran Rahman, St. John the Baptist; third place: Mia Chaponnel, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial; fourth place: Amarah Paul, St. John the Baptist
Chemistry and Biochemistry
first place: Olivia Stewart, St. John the Baptist Middle; second place: Elle Breen, St. John the Baptist; third place: Darcy Scovil, St. Olaf; fourth place: Charlotte Flaherty, Our Lady of Lourdes
Earth and Environmental Science/Engineering
first place: Katherine Lanspa, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial; second place: Penelope (Poppy) Kail, Our Lady of Lourdes; third place: Gavin Hayes, St. John the Baptist
Engineering – Civil, Electrical, Mechanical or Materials
first place: Mae Mastrorocco, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial; second place: Smera Nair, St. John the Baptist; third place: Caden Farr, St. John the Baptist; fourth place: Kai Shaw, St. John the Baptist
Medicine, Health Science, and Biomedical Engineering
first place: Lia Vazquez, St. John the Baptist; second place: Emmaline Sloan, Our Lady of Lourdes; third place: Haven Harding, Our Lady of Lourdes; fourth place: Sadie Long, St. John the Baptist
Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics
first place: Alexander Sharp, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial; second place: Michael McLachlan, St. John the Baptist; third place: Isabella Martinez, St. Olaf; fourth place: Camila Morales, St. John the Baptist
Eighth-Grade Awards
Behavioral and Social Science
first place: Ava Busch, St. Vincent de Paul; second place: Andrea Allred, St. Vincent de Paul; third place: Haylin Chong, St. Vincent de Paul; fourth place: Joshua Neely, St. Joseph
Biology, Microbiology, and Genetics
first place: Ella Lanspa, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial; second place: Bella Newton, St. John the Baptist; third place: Lauren Hildebrand, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial; fourth place: Ishan Singh, St. John the Baptist
Chemistry and Biochemistry
first place: Jad Alharethi, St. John the Baptist; second place: Grace Summers, St. Vincent de Paul; third place: Julian Allen, St. Vincent de Paul
Earth and Environmental Science/Engineering: 
first place: Lev Burtsev, Our Lady of Lourdes; second place: Ashley Taylor, St. Vincent de Paul; third place: Maggie Hanna, Our Lady of Lourdes; fourth place: Clara Wolf, St. Joseph 
Engineering – Civil, Electrical, Mechanical or Materials 
first place: Corinne Gray, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial; second place: Tyce Sanders, St. John the Baptist; third place: Porter Green, St. Vincent de Paul; fourth place: Calvin Simon, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial.
Medicine, Health Science, and Biomedical Engineering
first place: Catherine Fuller, St. John the Baptist; second place: Ruby Newlin, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial; third place: Vaughn Diaz, St. John the Baptist; fourth place: Charlotte Meyer, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial.
Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics: 
first place: Nathan Rivet, St. John the Baptist; second place: Abigail VanDongen, St. Olaf; third place: Makena Ramos, St. John the Baptist; fourth place: Chase Fairbanks, St. John the Baptist
High School Awards
First place: Jaeden Pena, Juan Diego CHS; second place: Sarah Leng and Paul Claudon, Juan Diego CHS; third place: Ethan Bo, Judge Memorial CHS; fourth place: Becket Evans, Juan Diego CHS