Soybean Science Challenge

What is the Soybean Science Challenge?

Since its launch in 2014, the Soybean Science Challenge has engaged thousands of students and educators nationwide. Through a blend of real-time and online learning, in-service training, virtual field trips, hands-on lab sessions, educational publications, mentorship opportunities, and awards for student research, we're making a tangible impact.

Watch this video to hear from teachers, students, and science fair directors as they share their experiences and insights into how the Soybean Science Challenge is transforming science education and empowering student-led agricultural research.

See the Soy Scholars: 2024 Research Winners

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

Bennet Chen 14, A freshman at Little Rock Central High School  in Little Rock, won first place in the 2024 State Soybean Science Challenge.

Bennet Chen,14,  a freshman at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, won the 2024 Soybean Science Challenge First Place Award at the State Science and Engineering Fair held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on March 30, and the Senior Division SSC Award at Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at UA-Little Rock on March 1. Chen received a $1,000 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board for his State win and $300 for his regional win. His teacher-mentor, Ms. Tarsha Parker, is also pictured.

Project Title: Forcasting the future; a predictive modeling approach to diciphering climate change's impact on county level soybean yields.

 Learn more about Bennet.

Jana Abuelem 15, a junior at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, won second place in the 2024 State Soybean Science Challenge.

Jana Abuelem, 15, a  junior at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, was the second-place state winner of the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2024 Arkansas State Science and Engineering Fair held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on March 30. Jana received a $500 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Her teacher-mentor, Katie Parsons, is also pictured.

Project Title: The effects of caffeine on Glycine max proteogenomics.

Read more about Jana

Sulli Schaffer,16, a sophomore at Gravette High School in Gravette, won Honorable Mention in the 2024 State Soybean Science Challenge.

Sulli Schaffer, 16, a sophomore at Gravette High School, was the Honorable Mention state winner of the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2024 Arkansas State Science and Engineering Fair at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on March 30. Schaffer received a $250 award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Her teacher-mentor, Allison Schaffer, is also pictured.

Project Title: Does radiation affect soybean growth?

Learn more about Sulli

Sulyman Acikgoz, 13, an eighth grader at Lisa Academy West Middle School in Little Rock, won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2024 Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Sulyman Acikgoz, 13, an eighth grader at Lisa Academy West Middle School in Little Rock, won the 2024 Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award held March 1 at UA Little Rock. Sanjay received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Sevcan Acikgoz is also pictured.

Project title: What is the effect of magnetic fields on germination and water absorption of soybeans?

Learn more about Suleyman

Kacylyn Reupta, 14, a freshman from Genoa Central High School in Texarkana, won the Senior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2024 Ouachita Mountains Regional Science and Engineering Fair,

Kacylyn Reupta, 14, a freshman from Genoa Central High School in Texarkana, won the Senior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2024 Ouachita Mountains Regioal Science and Engineering Fair held March 1, in Hot Springs. Kacylyn received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Teacher Sheila Bently is also pictured.    Learn more about Kacylyn

Zane Morris, 16, an eighth grader at Genoa Central Junior High School in Texarkana, won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2024 Ouachita Mountains Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Zane Morris, 16, an eighth grader at Genoa Central Junior High School in Texarkana, won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2024 Ouachita Mountains Regional Science and Engineering Fair held March 1, in Hot Springs. Zane received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, Teacher Rita Martin is also pictured.                  Learn more about Zane

Stuttgart High School sophomore Syndey Fuller,16,  won the Senior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2024 Southeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair.

Sydney Fuller, 15, a sophomore at Stuttgart High School in Stuttgart,  won the Soybean Science Challenge Senior Division Award at the 2024 Southeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair held March 7 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: Effects of soil nutrients on plant growth.  Learn more about Sydney

Alice Dong, 17, a junior at the Arkansas School for Math, Science, and the Arts, won the Senior Division Soybean Science Challenge at the 2024 West Central Arkansas Regional Science  Fair.

Alice Dong, 17, a junior at the Arkansas School for Math, Science, and the Arts in Hot Springs won the Senior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at the 2024 West Central Arkansas Regional Science  Fair held Feb. 23 at ASMSA in Hot Springs. Alice received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. She is pictured with her teacher-mentor Dr. Lindsey Waddell.

Project Title: Effects of ALAN on soybean phenology and chlorophyll levels.  Learn more about Alice

Jonesboro High School seniors Sydney Wolf  and Anna Leslie, both 17, win the Senior Division Northeast Regional Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge.

Sydney Wolf and Anna Leslie, 17, seniors at The Academies at Jonesboro High School, won the 2024 Senior Division Northeast Regional Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge held March 8 at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro. Sydney and Anna split a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Sydney and Anna's teacher-mentor, Allyson Goodin, is also pictured.

Project title: How effective is green filtering?

Learn more about Sydney and Anna

Me'Shelle Hinson, 12, a seventh grader at Paragould Junior High School won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge at the 2024 Northeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair.

Me'Shelle Hinton, 12, a seventh grader at Paragould Junior High School in Paragould, won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge at the 2024 Northeast Arkansas Regional Science Fair held March 8 at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro. Me'Shelle received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Me'Shelle is pictured with her teacher-mentor, Jennifer Langston.

Project Title: Water filtration  Learn more about Me'Shelle

Duyen Do, 18, a senior at Fayetteville Christian Academy won the Senior Division Soybean Science Challenge at the 2024 Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Duyen Do,18, a senior at  Fayetteville Christian Academy won the Senior Division Soybean Science Challenge at the 2024 Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair held March 8 at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. Duyen received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Duyen is pictured with her Teacher-Mentor, Pat Briney.

Project Title: The impact of varied life cycles on soybean seed germination.  Learn more about Duyen 

Hadley Panek, 13, an eighth grader at St. Joseph Catholic School, won the 2024 Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge Award at Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair. 

Hadley, 13, from St. Joseph Catholic School in Fayetteville, won the Junior Division Soybean Science Challenge at the 2024 Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair at University of Arkansas-Fayetteville on March 8. Hadley received a $200 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Hadley is  pictured with her teacher-mentor, Erin Wragg.

Project title: The effects of pretreatment on soybeans.

Learn more about Hadley

Emerson High School freshman Ka'Lee Hanson won the Soybean Science Challenge Senior Division award at the 2024 Southwest Arkansas Emerson High School STEM Night.

 Ka'Lee Hanson, 16, a sophomore at Emerson High School in Emerson, won the Soybean Science Challenge Senior Division award at the 2024 Southwest Arkansas Emerson High School STEM Night held at Emerson High School on April 18. She received a $300 cash award provided by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Ka'Lee is pictured with her teacher-mentor, Amanda Watson.

Project Title: Soybean Hydroponics

Learn more about Ka'Lee

Emerson High School eighth grader Aiden Watson, 14, won the Soybean Science Challenge Junior Division Award at the 2024 Southwest Arkansas Emerson High School STEM Night.

 Aiden Watson, 14, an eighth grader at Emerson High School in Emerson, won the Soybean Science Challenge Junior Division award at the 2024  Southwest Arkansas Emerson High School STEM Night at Emerson High School April 18. 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: What types of soil have the largest effect on Soybean Plant Growth.

Learn more about Aiden

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

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