Sudbury Regional Science Fair honours late mentor Dr. Ken Westaway

Following the Sudbury Regional Science Fair that took place at Laurentian University April 11, seven local students have been selected to move onto the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton, Alberta next month.

These students are:


Ishan Shukla, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, for his project Bio-Plastics
Kruz Bradley, Northeastern Public School, for his project De-Muck the Yuck
Simoné Thompson, Marymount Academy, for her project GO! Multi Sport App
Farheen Binte Shams, Lockery Composite School, for her project Echoes in the genome: Identifying Cardioprotective Agents
Alexander Crossgrove & Maria Luisa dos Santos, Lockery Composite School, for their project The Peatland pH Project
Ariana Demers, Lockerby Composite School, for her project Conserved Regeneration Signatures in Human Wound Biology (Demers was the winner of the Best in Fair Award)

“The Sudbury Regional Science Fair Committee congratulates all participants and winners,” said a press release.

For a list of all the divisional and special award winners, visit srsf.ca/winners.

This year’s fair featured 62 projects involving 87 participants from across the Greater Sudbury region.

Participating students represented the Rainbow District School Board, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon and Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord.

This marks the highest level of participation in the last decade, surpassed only by the record set at the 2011 regional fair.

The projects were evaluated by 70 professional scientists and engineers from the local community.

After two rigorous rounds of judging, the SRSF committee awarded 21 divisional awards (including six honourable mentions) and 46 special awards. Approximately $6,000 worth of prizes and scholarships were awarded.

“The judging process is a vital component of the fair,” said the SRSF Committee. “It provides students the opportunity to discuss their findings with professionals in the field, further inspiring their passion for scientific inquiry.”

The Sudbury Regional Science Fair Committee had a special dedication to the memory of a pillar of the science fair family, Dr. Ken Westaway, who passed away earlier this month. Westaway served on the SRSF committee for over 50 years, holding nearly every role possible during his tenure.

A brilliant organic chemist and a dedicated mentor, he was instrumental in bringing the National Science Fair to Sudbury twice, said a press release. Known for his kindness, compassion, and legendary sense of humor, Westaway was a firm believer that the “details” mattered.

He championed the idea that the scientific journey was one of the most important paths a young person could take.

“The SRSF continues its mission today in his honor, grateful for five decades of his guidance and passion,” said the press release.

Each year, the Sudbury Regional Science Fair also recognizes one educator from the Sudbury Region with the Science Ambassador Award.

The honour is awarded to a local educator who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging their students in STEM education, particularly the Science Fair, going above and beyond to share their passion for science.

For 2026, the Science Ambassador Award recipient is Tessa Jewell.

A “transformative educator” at Marymount Academy, Jewell’s intensive daily mentorship led 18 students to the board-level fair this year, including a sweep of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board fair’s top three prizes.

Beyond the classroom, she is recognized for bridging the gap between elementary and secondary science education, fostering a culture of inquiry and innovation.

Her tireless commitment to hands-on discovery and student leadership truly embodies the spirit of an ambassador of science inspiring both her colleagues and the next generation of scientific leaders.

“This recognition means a great deal to me, as it reflects the hard work, curiosity, and dedication of the students at Marymount Academy throughout the science fair process,” said Jewell, in a press release issued by the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “It’s incredibly rewarding to support them as they explore their ideas and grow in confidence as young scientists.”

Marymount Academy principal Stephanie Venturi said Jewell’s approach extends beyond regular classroom instruction and provides students with additional academic support and encouragement.

“What sets her apart is the extraordinary level of dedication she brings to her students. For over two months, she gave up her lunch every single day to run workshops and one-on-one conferencing sessions, helping students refine their ideas, troubleshoot challenges and elevate their projects,” Venturi said.