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Earlier this month, 10 talented students from Mendocino County traveled to California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks to compete in the California State Science and Engineering Fair, joining over 850 of the most promising young scientists from across the state.
As a judge in the Junior Zoology division, I had the privilege of witnessing the depth, rigor, and creativity of student-led research firsthand. The fair showcased innovative projects across every scientific discipline, from renewable energy and health sciences to behavioral research and environmental solutions.
Our Mendocino County students brought forward a range of original and thought-provoking projects. I had the opportunity to interview five of the 10 students during the event, each of whom demonstrated an impressive command of their subject and a passion for problem-solving.
Three students from Mendocino County earned statewide recognition for their outstanding projects:
- Jameson Matheson, a 7th grader from Baechtel Grove Middle School in Willits, earned 1st Place in the Microbiology division for his exceptional project work.
- Toshiyoi Majima, 11th grade student at Developing Virtue Secondary Schools in Ukiah, placed 5th in the Biochemistry/Molecular Biology division.
- Seona Slater, a 6th grader from Willits Charter School, received a sponsored award, the South Coast AQMD Air Quality Award, for her project, “Hydrogen: Fuel of the Future.”
In addition to Mendocino County students, I interviewed students from Humboldt County and from a nearby high school located just across the street from the university. These conversations offered an important comparison and revealed both the common threads and distinct challenges faced by students across different regions.
One concerning reality that emerged at the fair was that despite the incredible talent on display, the California State Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF) was only able to send two students to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), even though they are permitted to send up to ten.
Why? Funding limitations.
Meanwhile, larger county offices of education (such as San Bernardino and Riverside) have their own direct pipelines to ISEF. They send students independently, bypassing the state fair entirely. That’s not the case for rural counties like Mendocino, where CSEF is the only pathway for our students to reach that next level.
This disparity highlights a deeper issue: the growing gap in access to elite academic opportunities based on geography and funding. When federal support is cut (or fails to reach rural communities), it limits not just what schools can offer, but what students can aspire to. In short, without consistent and equitable federal investment, brilliant young scientists from smaller counties are left competing for fewer slots, with fewer resources, and fewer chances to shine on the global stage.
While students are rising to new academic heights, school systems continue to face challenges. In early April, California and 12 other states filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for abruptly cutting off access to hundreds of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funding for K–12 schools.
The lawsuit, filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, argues that the U.S. Department of Education violated the law by canceling previously approved extensions to spend COVID-era funds. These funds, originally set to expire in March 2026, were critical to supporting students with tutoring, mental health counseling, summer school, technology access, and after-school programming, especially in rural districts.
In total, California stands to lose around $200 million. Many Mendocino County districts depend on these funds to address the academic and emotional impacts of the pandemic, needs that certainly haven’t disappeared.
This year also marks 60 years since the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, which created Title I, the federal program that delivers targeted funding to schools serving students from low-income families. Title I has become a cornerstone of public education, helping to ensure that every student, regardless of their ZIP code, has access to quality learning opportunities. In fiscal year 2024, Title I was funded at $18.4 billion, distributed through formula grants.
Yet some lawmakers have proposed converting Title I into a block grant, allowing states more freedom in how the money is spent, raising concerns among education advocates about accountability and equitable access. For smaller, rural counties like Mendocino, programs like Title I and pandemic recovery funding are not abstract — they are essential.
What Mendocino County’s students demonstrated at the State Science Fair is that curiosity, critical thinking, and innovation are alive and well, even in small, rural communities. But we must continue to ensure that students have the support systems, funding and opportunities they need to thrive. As we celebrate our young scientists’ success, we must also fight to preserve the infrastructure that made their path possible to ensure that rural talent isn’t left behind.
Michelle Hutchins, M.A., is a trustee for Area 3 (Supervisorial District 3) on the Mendocino County Board of Education. As one of five trustees on the county board, she contributes a column to Mendocino Voice each month about the promises and challenges of education in a rural county.
Weren’t a funding cuts for the Department of Education that we are disbanding not funding cuts for the schools? I’m just trying to get the truth here because it seems to be like everyone has a different truth. You guys just seem to print this out and put it as just being God’s honest truth as to what’s going on but we all know better mainly because it’s from your news. Let’s actually check into the truth about what’s going on instead of just depending on these biased news agencies and newspapers.