MCPHERSON MAGNET SCHOOL STUDENTS MOVE ONTO STATE SCIENCE FAIR SHOWING SUCCESS OF PROJECT “LEAD THE WAY” PROGRAM


Multiple students from McPherson Magnet School in the Orange Unified School District recently represented the District at the Orange County Science and Engineering Fair (OCSEF). Several students will advance to the state level of competition with their projects at the California Science Center in Exposition Park on April 29-30 in Los Angeles, displaying a high level of educational excellence in the science and engineering areas taught at McPherson.  

Led by Shannon Duncan and 2016 OCSEF Teacher of the Year Kayee Conrad, McPherson students’ projects placed in the following areas at the county competition:

  • Martin Ok (6th grade)  1st in Fluids/Aerodynamics – Will move on to the State Competition

  • Sean Halperin/Mia Henry (6th grade)  3rd in Behavioral Sciences

  • Darina Dang (7th grade)  2nd in Physical Product Science – Will move on to the State Competition.

  • Anthony Perez (7th grade)  2nd in Chemistry – Will move on to the State Competition.

  • Danna Coria (7th grade) – 2nd in Behavior Science – Will move on to the State Competition.

  • Jolette Hernandez/Alexis Tran (7th grade) – Special Award: Beckman/Chapman Award and American Association of Clinical Chemistry

  • Laurel Manion (8th grade) – 2nd in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology – Will move on to the State Competition.

  • Aubrey Valdez/Juliet Allred (8th grade) – 3rd Pharmacology & Toxicology

  • Jonathan Tabb (8th grade) – 1st in Pharmacology & Toxicology – Will move on to the State Competition.


McPherson Magnet School also recently celebrated its Project Lead the Way Distinguished school status for both their elementary (Launch) and secondary (Gateway) programs. McPherson is one of four schools in the entire county to achieve distinguished school status for the elementary program and the only school in the county to receive the designation for a middle school program.

McPherson has partnered with Project Lead the Way to empower McPherson students to problem-solve and design through a mindset centered around experiences and projects that relate to the real world. As students engage in hands-on activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, they become creative, collaborative problem solvers ready to take on any challenge.

McPherson Magnet School and OUSD are very proud of the science and engineering projects that placed in the county competition, as well as those who entered at the school’s own science fair in February. McPherson Magnet School’s administration and teachers work hard to ensure they are educating the whole child to reach their greatest potential and become lifelong learners.

About Orange Unified School District

Serving the cities of Orange, Villa Park, and other surrounding cities in California, Orange Unified School District is committed to planning for continual improvement in its schools. Orange Unified’s mission it to offer a learning environment of excellence and high expectations, where every student is provided with the opportunity to be able to compete in the global economy. 

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Company Name: Orange Unified School District
Contact Person: Reggie Thompkins
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Phone: 714-628-4000
Address:1401 North Handy Street
City: Orange
State: California
Country: United States
Website: www.orangeusd.org