Regional science fair winners from Cherokee County on Saturday at USC Upstate included Tripp Hammett, Drew Spencer, Holland Hammett, Shaquille Allen, Kaeley Swofford, Richard Martin, Sam McGaha, and Peyton Sealy. Cherokee County students from 10 schools won awards Saturday at the Piedmont Regional Science Fair at USCUpstate in Spartanburg.

Gaffney High student William Spires received first place awards from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force for his project in the math and computer science category. His other awards were from the S.C. Council Teachers of Math, Mu Alpha Theta Math Society, and second place in the math category.

Spires was the only student from Gaffney High to enter a project in the regional science fair.

Gaffney High science teachers chose not to hold a school science fair this year, citing a lack of student enthusiasm for science fair projects and student involvement in other school activities. A student from the school had won the regional science fair eight of the past nine years.

"Most high schools do not support a school science fair," regional science fair coordinator Lyle Campbell said. "Increasingly, we are seeing students do science fair projects independent of their schools with the commitment of a teacher and support from their parents."

This year's overall high school winner was Michael Green, a student who is home schooled in Spartanburg. He was honored by judges in the behavior science category for his project on left and right brain dominance.

Overall, there were 700 science fair projects from 54 schools in this year's regional science fair.

Holland Hammett received a first place award in the middle school behavior science catgory. She was one of four students from the Village School of Gaffney to receive an award.

Tripp Hammett received an ASM International Foundation Award. Shaquille Allen received second place award in middle school biology. Drew Spencer earned third place in biology and a certificate from the American Society for Microbiology.

Several Cherokee County elementary and middle school students received awards for their projects at an awards ceremony in the Campus Life Center.

Blacksburg Elementary student Amelia Martin received first-place award in biology. Peyton Sealy received National Audubon Society Award and Matthew Dillingham received a certificate from the Department of Navy and Marine Corps.

Corinth Elementary student Kaeley Swofford received first-place award in physics. Richard Martin won second place and Samuel McGaha won third place in biology. Brandi Mullinax received third place in math and computer science.

Other county students receiving awards included Luther Vaughan Elementary student Emily Camp (first place in general science); Northwest Elementary student Parker Hively (second place in Hannah Russell (first place in general science); Granard Middle student Catherine Holly (third place in behavior student Tyler Vassey (U.S. Army certificate); and Grassy Pond Elementary student Clay Childers (third place in chemistry).