MOVRSF Board of Directors Cancels Regional Fair

The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Science Fair (MOVRSF) Board of Directors will not conduct a Regional Science Fair this March as had been planned due to a lack of participation by local students.  The fair, which was open to students in Grades 9-12 from 18 eligible schools in the eight counties that make up the Region Educational Service Agency (RESA) District V in northwestern West Virginia, has struggled to meet participation expectations and standards since it was revived four years ago by a group of local volunteers.

In order to offer the students of this area a high-quality regional fair with an opportunity to distinguish themselves regionally and nationally, the MOVRSF affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). In the past few years, our winning students participated and competed in ISEF Fairs throughout the country. ISEF, however, requires that regional fairs must have at least fifty participants or at least five high schools represented.  We have not been able to meet either quota in any of the three fairs we have conducted over the past four years. This year, only two students had registered by the deadline date, February 21, and both of them were from the same high school.

We wish to thank all the financial sponsors that have supported our efforts over the past four years and particularly express our appreciation to all the volunteers that have given their time and talents and to Wood County Schools for their support and assistance in maintaining our website. We are encouraging local students to consider participation in the West Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair to be held at Fairmont State University on March 28-29, 2008.

Press Release, February 29, 2008
Source: Patrick A. Rodgers, MOVRSF Director