Press Releases
LEXINGTON, KY. (Feb. 4, 2026) – Over 550 Fayette County public, private and home-school students in grades four through 12 will compete in the annual Kentucky American Water Science Fair coordinated by Fayette County Public Schools on Saturday, Feb. 7, at Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington. This year marks the 41st year for the event and Kentucky American Water is pleased to have served as the presenting sponsor of the fair for all 41 years. The Kentucky American Water Science Fair was established in 1985 to help celebrate the company’s centennial anniversary.
Students participating in the event have either earned advancement to the district fair by receiving honors at their respective schools’ science fairs or otherwise earned recognition for their projects to advance to district competition. Project judging will begin in the school’s gymnasium at 9 a.m. and will conclude around noon. Nearly 500 student projects represent a variety of science disciplines, such as chemistry, plant sciences, engineering and physics. The awards will be presented beginning at 3 p.m. in the Frederick Douglass gymnasium. Kentucky American Water Senior Manager of Government and External Affairs Susan Lancho and Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Demetrus Liggins will present awards.
“Kentucky American Water is proud to provide high-quality water to our communities and honor our longstanding partnerships with those that help make our communities vibrant places to live and work,” said Kentucky American Water President Robert Burton. “We are excited to, once again, present the Kentucky American Water Science Fair and partner with Fayette County Public Schools to celebrate these bright young minds. Today’s science fair participants will be tomorrow’s engineers, doctors, teachers, water providers and difference makers and we are pleased to support them on their journey.”
Even those not participating in the science fair can spend the day learning about science by visiting the Discovery Zone – a wide array of student-friendly exhibits and hands-on activities open to participants and the general public from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hallways outside the gymnasium. This year the Discovery Zone will include demonstrations from:
- All Rite Pest Control
- Bluegrass Gem and Mineral Club
- Bluegrass Greensource
- Central Kentucky Audubon Society – Critters in the Classroom
- Kentucky American Water
- Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet – Division of Water
- Kentucky Paleontological Society
- Lexington Children’s Museum
- Lexington Division of Emergency Management
- Lexington History Museum
- Live Green Lexington
- Life Adventure Center – Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary
- Living Arts and Science Center
- Locust Trace Agriscience
- Members Heritage Credit Union
- Newton’s Attic
- The Arboretum – State Botanical Garden of Kentucky
- University of Kentucky’s Anthropology Department
- University of Kentucky’s Ecological Research and Education Center – Taking Flight
- University of Kentucky’s College of Pharmacy – Wonders of Pharmacy
- University of Kentucky’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
- University of Kentucky’s Horticulture Club
- University of Kentuck’s Physics Petting Zoo
- University of Kentucky’s Seed Biology
Many of the Discovery Zone exhibitors will celebrate this year’s Kentucky American Water Science Fair theme, “Advancing Innovation: One Experiment at a Time.” The exhibits and activities are free.
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
About Kentucky American Water
Kentucky American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, provides safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 527,000 people.
For more information, visit Kentucky American Water’s website and join Kentucky American Water on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Ellen Williams
External Affairs Lead
(859) 268-6364
ellen.williams@amwater.com