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Soybean Science Challenge


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  Student and teacher Course guide - get startedArkansas high school science project development guide    Soybean science challenge brochure download now


See the Soy Scholars: 2023 Research Winners

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What is the Soybean Science Challenge?

The Soybean Science Challenge is a farmer-funded, statewide, high school education program that seeks to increase student knowledge about the value of Arkansas soybeans to the Arkansas economy, to the labor force, and ultimately to feed and fuel the world.

The Challenge is co-sponsored by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.

In eight years the Challenge has reached thousands of students and teachers across the nation through real-time and on-line education, in-service training, Virtual Field Trips, classroom lab instruction, Arkansas-based educational publications, mentoring, and awards for independent student research.

Who is eligible?

Students in grades 6-12 who successfully complete the Soybean Science Challenge online course and enter a science project in one of the International Science and Engineering Fair affiliated fairs are eligible for consideration of cash awards.  Applied science projects will be considered from all categories as long as they are soybean or agriculturally related.

Recent Winners

 Waddell with Thomas and Thompson

Alyssa Thompson and Drew Thomas, 17, seniors at Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science and the Arts in Hot Springs, won first place in the 2023 State Soybean Science Challenge.

Alyssa Thompson and Drew Thomas, seniors at ASMSA in Hot Springs, won the 2023 Soybean Science Challenge First Place Award at the Southwestern Energy State Science and Engineering Fair held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on March 31. Thompson and Thomas split a $1,000 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Their teacher-mentor, Dr. Lindsey Waddell, is also pictured.

Project Title: Examination of Variability of Fall Armyworm Infestations in Arkansas and the Potential for Biopesticide Treatment of Soybeans

 Learn more about Drew and Alyssa.

 

 

Rini E
Drew Thomas

 

Rini Eluvathingal, 14, a freshman at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, won second place in the State Soybean Science Challenge.

Rini Eluvathingal, 14, a freshman at Central High School in Little Rock, was the second-place state winner of the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2023 Arkansas State Science Fair held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on March 31. Rini received a $500 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Her teacher-mentor, William Drew, is also pictured.

Project Title: The Effects of Biochar and SAPs on the Water Holding Capacity of Soil

Read more about Rini


Justus and Deavens HM Win

Justus Osbon, 16, a sophomore at Fayetteville Christian School in Fayetteville, won Honorable Mention in the 2023 State Soybean Science Challenge.

Justus Osbon, 16, a sophomore at Fayetteville Christian School, was the Honorable Mention state winner of the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2023 Arkansas State Science Fair at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on March 31. Justus received a $250 award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. His teacher-mentor, Alicia Deavens, is also pictured.

Project Title: How Much Smoke until you Choke

Learn more about Justus


Siddharth and Patrick Foley SR Division Winners

Central High School freshman Siddharth Snidharan, won the 2023 Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair Senior Level Soybean Science Challenge Award.

Siddharth Snidharan, 15, a freshman at Central High School in Little Rock, won the 2023 Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair Senior Level Soybean Science Challenge Award at UA Little Rock on March 3. Siddharth received $300 cash provided by the Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Patrick Foley is also pictured.

Project Title: Deciphering the Radio-Protective Effects of the Soy Isoflavone Genistein in Lung Cells

Learn more about Siddharth


Sanjay and teacher

Sanjay Iyer, 12, a seventh grader at Forest Heights STEM Academy in Little Rock, won the Junior Level Soybean Science Challenge Award.

Sanjay Iyer, a seventh grader at Forest Heights STEM Academy in Little Rock, won the 2023 Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair Junior Level Soybean Science Challenge Award held March 3 at UA Little Rock. Sanjay received a$200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Stephanie James is also pictured.

Project title: 'PEST' (Pest Evaluating Soybean Tool), a Novel Machine Learning Method to Detect Soybean Plant Pests

Learn more about Sanjay


Sydney Fuller SR Div WinnerKatherine Yancey

Stuttgart High School student Syndey Fuller won the Senior Level Award at the 2023 Southeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair.

Sydney Fuller, 14, a freshman at Stuttgart High School in Stuttgart,  won the Soybean Science Challenge Senior Level Award at the 2023 Southeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair held March 9 at the University of Arkansas Monticello. She received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Katherine Yancey is also pictured.

Project title: Plant Hydroponics.  Learn more about Sydney


Smith JR Division Winner

Dumas Middle School student Layne Smith won the Junior Level award at the 2023 Southeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair.

Layne Smith, 14, an eighth grader at Dumas Middle School in Dumas, won the Soybean Science Challenge Junior Level award at the 2023 Southeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair at University of Arkansas-Monticello on March 9. Layne received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Preslee Carter is also pictured.

Project title: Soil and Soybeans. 

Learn more about Layne


Xiong and Navarro with teacher

Charis Xiong and Amanda Navarro, seniors at the Arkansas School for Math, Science, and the Arts, won  Senior Level awards at the 2023 West Central Arkansas Regional Science  Fair.

Congratulations to Charis Xiong and Amanda Navarro, 17, both seniors at the Arkansas School for Math, Science, and the Arts in Hot Springs who won the Senior Level Soybean Science Challenge at the 2023 West Central Arkansas Regional Science  Fair held Feb. 24 at ASMSA in Hot Springs. Charis and Amanda split a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. They are pictured with their teacher-mentor Nicholas Seward.

Project Title: Development of a Novel AI Soybean Root Knot Nematode Stress Assessment Model in Soybean Plants.  Learn more about Charis and Amanda


Wolf and Goodin with certificates

Jonesboro High School junior  Sydney Wolf won the Senior Division Northeast Regional Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge.

Sydney Wolf, 16, a junior at The Academies at Jonesboro High School, won the 2023 Senior Division Northeast Regional Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge held March 10 at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro March 10. Sydney received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Sydney's teacher-mentor, Allyson Goodin, is also pictured.

Project title: How Does Planting Configuration and Irrigation Method Affect Soybean Growth?

Learn more about Sydney


Foster and Southard with certificates

Salem High School student Levi Foster won the Junior Level Soybean Science Challenge at the 2023 Northeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair.

Levi Foster, 13, a seventh grader at Salem High School in Salem, won the Junior Level Soybean Science Challenge at the 2023 Northeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair held March 10 at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro. Levi received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Levi is pictured with his teacher-mentor, Katie Southard.

Project Title: Comparing the Growth of Soybeans Using Different Types of Water Learn more about Levi


Collins and Snell with certificatesZach Thomas and Certificate

Alpena High School students Mason Collins and Jack Snell won the Senior Level Soybean Science Challenge at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Regional Science Fair.

Mason Collins, 16, a sophomore, and Jack Snell, 15, a freshman, won the Senior Level Soybean Science Challenge at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Regional Science Fair held March 10 at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.  Mason and Jack split the $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Mason and Jack are pictured with their Teacher-Mentor, Zachary Thomas.

Project Title: Diagnosing bacterial blight with Darknet. Learn more about Mason and Jack 


Salinas Girls and Deen

Lakeside Junior High School students Keila and Michelle Ortiz Salinas, a ninth and eighth grader from  in Lakeside.

Keila, 15, and Michelle Ortiz Salinas, 14, from Lakeside Junior High School in Lakeside, won the Junior Level Soybean Science Challenge at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair at University of Arkansas-Fayetteville on March 10. The sisters split a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Keila and Michelle are pictured with their teacher-mentor, Kiersten Deen.

Project title: How do Magnets Affect the Germination Rate of a Soybean Plant?

Learn more about Keila and Michelle


 Amanda Watson and Ka'Lee Hanson

 

Emerson High School freshman Ka'Lee Hanson won the Soybean Science Challenge Senior Level award at the 2023 Southwest Arkansas Regional Science Fair.

Congratulations to Ka'Lee Hanson, 15, a freshman at Emerson High School in Emerson. Ka'Lee won the Soybean Science Challenge Senior Level award at the 2023 Southwest Arkansas Regional Science Fair held at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia on March 31. She received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board at the Awards Ceremony. Ka'Lee is pictured with her teacher-mentor, Amanda Watson.

Project Title: Soybean Hydroponics

Learn more about Ka'Lee

Watson and Glass

Emerson High School student Aiden Watson, won the Soybean Science Challenge Junior Division award at the 2023 Southwest Arkansas Regional Science Fair.

Congratulations to Aiden Watson, 13, a seventh grader at Emerson High School in Emerson. Aiden won the Soybean Science Challenge Junior Division award at the 2023 Southwest Arkansas Regional Science Fair at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia March 31. Aiden received a $200 cash award from the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board at the award ceremony. He is pictured with his teacher-mentor, Jessica Glass.

Project Title: The Effects of Oil Spills on Soybean Plant Growth

Learn more about Aiden

 

Baker Girls SR Division FFA Winners

Mountain Home High School sophomores Hannah and Hadleigh Baker, won the Soybean Science Challenge Senior Division Award at the Arkansas State FFA Agriscience Fair.

 Hadleigh and Hannah Baker, both 16, won the Soybean Science Challenge Senior Division Award at the 2023 Arkansas State FFA Agriscience Fair at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Hot Springs on April 26. Hadleigh and Hannah split a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Hadleigh and Hannah are pictured with their FFA advisors, Carson White and Josh Baker.

Learn more about Hadleigh and Hannah

 

Poindexter and Stacks

Taylor High School student Holland Stacks, 13, won the Soybean Science Challenge Junior Division Award at the Arkansas State FFA Agriscience Fair.

Congratulations to Holland Stacks, age 13, an eighth grader at Taylor High School in Taylor. Holland won the Soybean Science Challenge Junior Division Award at the 2023 Arkansas State FFA Agriscience Fair at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Hot Springs on April 26. Holland received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Holland is pictured with his FFA advisor, Chad Poindexter.

Learn more about Holland

For more information on the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, visit their website themiraclebean.com


 

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