Discovering God’s Design: ACA Students Shine at Clay County STEM Fair

Students from Appalachian Christian Academy (ACA) earned multiple awards at the Clay County STEM Fair held on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University–Manchester, joining participants from public and private schools across the region.

The annual event challenges students to apply classroom learning through hands-on experiments and presentations. Younger participants in kindergarten through second grade presented visual displays, while students in grades 3–12 explained their research and findings to a panel of judges.

ACA students saw great success across several categories. In science projects, third-grader Liam Henson took third place for a study on crystal growth. In the middle school division, Enoch Reis and Joshua Mizner earned second place for a project focused on electricity and robotics. Reis and Mizner also received first place overall in the Egg Drop competition, designing a protective structure that kept a raw egg intact after a high-altitude drop.

The fair also featured a Junkbots category, where students built functional robots using recycled materials.

Educators at ACA said the school emphasizes hands-on learning to help students apply scientific concepts in real-world settings. The approach encourages students to move beyond theory and engage directly with experimentation and problem-solving.

ACA, a mission school, serves families from a variety of faith backgrounds. School leaders said more than half of its students come from non-Adventist households, and more than 75% receive tuition assistance supported by local churches, fundraising efforts and donations.