2024 Special Awards

The Willowcroft Science Endowment Fund is the result of a donation in excess of $200,000 by Lewis Parker, long time RSEF supporter, and the owner and winemaker at Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, Loudoun’s first commercial winery. Mr. Parker generously added funding to the Willowcroft Science Endowment in 2009, and invites other members of the scientific community to participate.

The Willowcroft Science Endowment Fund permanently endows the Loudoun Education Foundation with an annual income stream restricted for use in support of Loudoun County Public Schools Regional Science & Engineering Fair (RSEF), for which Mr. Parker has a special passion developed through years of meaningful involvement. The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties invests and manages the endowment, and makes charitable distributions to the Loudoun Education Foundation which administers grants for the sciences. 

“I really believe that science is the future for our county and our country” said Mr. Parker. “We need to motivate and support the kids who have an interest in science and the teachers who help them. I hope to be able to add to the fund in the future and that others will also contribute directly, or through this endowment.” 

“Support for the project comes from Mr. Parker because he feels it is extremely important to keep open an outstanding creative path for high school students excelling in the sciences and scientific research and to also reward their mentors,” said Odette D. Scovel, RSEF Director. Among other scholarships offered by Willowcroft Science Endowment, the Willowcroft Science Award is given to an RSEF student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the sciences.  Two students chosen for this honor are awarded a $5,000 scholarship.  Two teachers are also awarded $3,000 in recognition of the support and mentoring they provide to the students.  Scovel continues, “Mr. Parker’s support of the science fair over the past 30 years has been wonderful for our students and teachers. His generosity is amazing, and we are thrilled to be the recipients of this gift for the regional science and engineering fair.” 

Mr. Parker has supported the Willowcroft Award since 1991, the first year the award was given. After the award interviews in 2021, Mr. Parker decided to increase the endowment, once again, so that it would be possible to recognize and support additional students and teachers. Beginning in 2022, the Willowcroft Award will be given to two students and two teachers each year. 

Members of the community are invited to contribute to the Willowcroft Science Endowment Fund. Those interested should contact Dawn Meyer, Executive Director of the Loudoun Education Foundation, 571-252-1102 or visit the LEF website at http://lef-va.com/.

Mr. Gregory Scovel provided the Aspiring Scientist Awards for deserving students to encourage them to participate in future LCPS Regional Science and Engineering Fairs.  All individuals will receive $100 award (not split between teams).

The American Industrial Hygiene Association provides 6, $100 awards for projects demonstrating outstanding research in the subject of Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety

The Albert Elliot Lyerly Educator Memorial Award offers a magazine/journal subscription to 3 projects that demonstrates a love and curiosity for science

The Aerospace Corporation awards the Robert H. Herndon Regional Science Award.  The 1st Place award for High School student or team is a gift prize valued up to $100.  The Award winner may also participate in The Aerospace Corporation Herndon Science Competition, which will be held virtually on May 26, 2022.  The Aerospace Corporation also selected 15 projects to award Honorable Mention certificates.

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is given to the best aerospace related projects.  Winners receive a $25 Cash Award, a invitation to the NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center Mission Design this summer.

The American Psychological Association honors exemplary research in Psychological Science with the American Psychological Association Award with a certificate of recognition.

The Association of Women Geoscientists honors projects that show excellence in the Geosciences with the SAGE award

Quality projects in science and engineering related to disciplines within the realm of work done at Collins Aerospace are awarded the Collins Aerospace Award. Winners of this award receive a Dell laptop and accessories.

The Curtiss-Wright Embedded System Special Awards go to students who have demonstrated an understanding of the engineering process and what is an “Embedded System”. In addition to the monetary awards, winners are invited to Curtiss-Wright for a site tour.

The DMC STEM-ML Research Award recognizes exemplary research in the application and integration of Data Science/Machine Learning. The winning project will be awarded $500 to support their research and celebrate exceptional creativity, ingenuity, and design.

The Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains is the only environmental organization whose focus is to protect and preserve our section of the Blue Ridge.  Other than the Appalachian Trail Corridor, it is the only part of the Blue Ridge that is privately owned and under threat.  This award (1st - $250, 2nd - $150, 3rd - $100) is chosen based on quality of project and relevance to the Blue Ridge Mountains ecosystem.  

The Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers, Incorporated offers three awards.  The Achievement Award provides a certificate to outstanding projects in STEM disciplines.  The Excellence Award goes to projects that show Excellence in the understanding or application of electrical engineering and related technologies.  The Innovation Award goes to a project that shows Innovation in the understanding or application of electrical engineering and related technologies. 

The IT Cadre Innovation Award is presented to the science fair entry that not only produced good science, but also hinted at that jaw dropping awe that inspires other people.  It challenges the boundaries of what is possible by combining things that people already know into something that has not been seen before.   

IT Cadre is happy to present this award since combining ideas everyone was familiar with into something no one had thought of before was the foundation of this Loudoun county based company.   So, out of mutual respect and in recognition of the talent and hard work involved, IT Cadre is pleased to present the 2022 IT Cadre Innovation Award ($250).

The Keep Loudoun Beautiful Award is awarded to projects that best fit the KLB mission to promote solutions to environmental challenges.  The 1st Place award receives $200, 2nd Place receives $150, and 3rd Place receives $100.

Exemplary work use of mapping, GIS, and/or spatial analysis is recognized by the Loudoun County Office of Mapping and Geographic Information with the Geospatial Analysis Award ($100 gift card).

The Loudoun Soil & Water Conservation District offer the following three $100 awards. 

• Jack Brown Award is for best project with conservation/environmental concern.  

• James. M. Rowley Award is for the best project related to water quality.  

• Leslie W. King Award is for the best project related to natural resources conservation.

The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Award recognizes exemplary research in the fields of wildlife or habitat conservation.  Honorable Mention comes with a $250 award (split between the team) and First Place for outstanding environmental or wildlife studies comes with a $500 award (split between the team).

The National Geographic Society That's Geography! - Cultivating Empathy for the Earth Award is a $100 award given in recognition of students who are seeking solutions to the Earth’s most pressing challenges, in particular, around oceans, land, wildlife, human history & cultures, and human ingenuity.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Associations Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award certificate will go to individuals selected from among all general award categories whose research emphasizes NOAA's mission of Science, Service, and Stewardship.

The Regeneron Biomedical Science Award ($500) recognizes students who show exemplary fortitude and exhibited alignment to the five principles of The Regeneron Way: Lead with Science, Take on Big Ideas, Make it Happen, Be Great Together, and Do What’s Right. 

The Ricoh Award recognizes students whose research has demonstrated the principles and technical Innovation that offer the greatest potential for Sustainable Development.

Projects that have best demonstrated an appreciation for the role science and engineering have in the conservation of a healthy environment for native plants and animals are awarded the Secret Garden Birds and Bees Wildlife Conservation Award. 

The Society for In Vitro Biology Award is for outstanding projects in cell or plant tissue culture or in vitro biology.

The US Stockholm Junior Water Prize honors water related projects and comes an entrance into the Stockholm prize competition. 

The Virginia Lakes & Watersheds Association Award recognizes a senior project related to watershed and water resources management, and/or storm water projects as they relate to water quality investigations with a gift-card.

The Virginia Water Environment Association honors water related projects with the VWEA Stockholm Junior Water Prize which and comes an entrance into the Stockholm prize competition and a monetary award ($150 for 1st Place & $75 for 2nd Place). 

The United States Air Force award recognizes projects with exemplary research in STEM fields with awards packages that include a sling pack, Power Bank, USB Flash Memory Drive, USB Car Charger, and Official Air Force Certificate.

The USPHS Distinguishing Achievement in Medicine & Public Health Award for clearly and thoroughly demonstrating creative ability, scientific thought, and independent skill to address issues relevant to public health.  All projects receive a certificate.  

The Yale Science and Engineering Association Award certificate goes to the most outstanding project in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics or Chemistry.