Sequoia Student Turns Science Fair Win Into Grant to Expand Opportunities for Peers

After earning First Place in the Environmental Sciences category at the 2025 Ventura County Science Fair, Sequoia Middle School eighth-grader Ammon Grano is using his success to open doors for other students by launching and securing support for the school’s first-ever Sequoia Science Fair Club.

After competing at the countywide fair last spring, Ammon was inspired to ensure that more Sequoia students would have the opportunity to participate in the future. Determined to make science fair involvement more accessible, he partnered with Sequoia science teacher Mrs. Maribel Reyes to create a new Science Fair Club focused on student-led research, creativity, and problem solving.

That initiative gained momentum when Ammon applied for, and was recently awarded, a Tri-County GATE Council Student Grant for the 2025–2026 school year, recognizing both his academic achievement and leadership. The grant will fund essential project materials, including display boards, lab equipment, notebooks, experiment supplies, and Science Fair registration fees to support Sequoia student participation in the Science Fair. He is one of just four students in the tri-county area to earn this grant to implement projects or services that enhance learning for gifted/high-potential learners for the 2025-2026 school year.

The Science Fair Club launched last year with 21 students at its first meeting. The club’s inaugural members are currently developing experiments and conducting research with plans to present their projects at the 2026 Ventura County Science Fair on March 20th.

By transforming his individual science fair achievement into a schoolwide opportunity, Ammon is helping inspire a new generation of Sequoia students to explore scientific inquiry, and proving that one student’s success can create lasting impact for many others. Congratulations Ammon!