Newsletter : October 2015

Greetings from the YES Fair!

To begin, we have redesigned our web site, www.yesfair.com, with more features such as being mobile device friendly. The 2016 YES Fair is scheduled for February 23-25, 2016 at the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center in Sierra Vista. Set-up is on Tuesday February 23rd, judging on February 24th and the Fair is open for school visits on February 25th with the awards ceremony following that evening.

The YES Fair is open to students in the 5th through 12th grades. Students compete in three Divisions, 5-6 grades, 7-8 grades and then 9-12 grades. Elementary schools are limited to the best 9 projects in each of the grade divisions. We have to limit participation due to the limited amount of space to hold the Fair. To determine the best projects (we suggest the best in each category and the best overall project) we encourage each grade school to have a local Science and Engineering Fair. To help with that, we offer a $200 grant (grant application on web site) to any school that holds a fair. We can also help by providing you with judging forms and helping you find judges.

YES Fair is going to be adding a competition for Illustrations and Web Design in the coming months. We have hopes the outline of project rules and judging criteria will be completed by November 2015. Several organizations, groups, agencies, and schools have been working on this project for most of this year. More information is coming!

To meet the requirements to have our winning high school projects advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), our goal is to have participation from 5 high schools or at least 50 high school projects. We will take as many high school projects as you want to send.

Please check out the resources on our web site that include the YES Fair rules, ISEF Rules, entry forms (filled out online), and many links to other sites with ideas for projects and other assistance for students and teachers.

As always, you can ask any and all questions with an e-mail to yesfair@ssvec.com

The final entry deadline is February 1, 2016. NO EXCEPTIONS. As the date of the entry deadline approaches, you will be receiving more information and suggestions for participation in the YES Fair.

I hope to have the biggest and best YES Fair yet, but I need your help to meet this goal.

We look forward to seeing you at the Fair,

Marcus Harston
YES Fair Director