The Oakdale Joint Unified School District’s annual Science Fair will take place from May 3-6 at the FES Hall located on North Lee Avenue, across from Fair Oaks Elementary School.

“We have over 400 projects representing over 1,000 students this year which is similar to last year,” said district science teacher Anne Marie Bergen. “This year, a new addition to support teachers and students is the Science Fair Mentor program, matching 10 community members with classes, teachers, and individual students to assist with conducting experiments and creating display boards.”

This year’s science fair is dedicated to former district educator Pam Antinetti, who passed away in February. Bergen added that a special display honoring Antinetti will be at the science fair. Antinetti was known as a great supporter of science and was instrumental in developing the district science program and the science fair as it is known today. The Pam Antinetti Achievement Award for Science Excellence, a perpetual award that was started in her honor in 2005, is given to one high achieving student entered in the OJUSD Science Fair annually. It carries a monetary award, which was funded by Mrs. Antinetti.

The science fair will be open to the public on May 4 and 5 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Due to the donation of the FES Hall, teachers will also be able to take their students on walking field trips to view the science projects.

The Student Scientist Evening will be on Wednesday, May 5 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. where students will have the opportunity to personally explain their projects to science fair visitors.

A science fair awards ceremony will take place on May 12.

There will also be 10 to 15 selected winning projects (K-8) from each site that will be chosen to enter the Stanislaus County Science Fair, May 10-14 at the Martin Petersen Event Center, 720 12th St., Modesto.