Contact: Lisa Napier (716) 310-1360
lnapier.whjsc@gmail.com
8th Annual Science Fair Returns to Burchfield Penney
Buffalo, New York – Registration is open for the Eighth Annual Willie Hutch Jones Educational and
Sports Program (WHJESP) STEAM Fair, returning to its original home of the Burchfield Penney Art Center on
March 25, 2023, from 11:30 am-2 pm. This event is the first in-person STEAM Fair in three years since being
forced to go virtual during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Registration is free and open to all students
from third to twelfth grades. Participants can register online at whjesp.org by March 17, 2023.
This year’s theme is “All Things STEAM.” Students are tasked to think of a problem, map out a plan to
design a solution, and then demonstrate how the problem is solved. Contestants can choose a science,
technology, engineering, or math project or explore how art intersects science. “This will be the first year
introducing art-based theories to the STEAM Fair. This convergence of art and science could be artificial
intelligence (AI) circuit board art or creative solutions for animal habitats through art; the possibilities are
endless. Longtime partner to WHJESP, Burchfield Penney Art Center, is the perfect venue, and we are excited
to see how students fill the space,” says founder Dr. Willie Hutch Jones. World-renown artist LeRoi C.
Johnson is currently exhibiting his “Electric Primitive” collection at the art center and will present the
keynote address during the award ceremony. His well-received exhibition at Burchfield runs through March,
and STEAM Fair guests can visit the exhibit for free that day. “We are honored to have LeRoi as our special
guest; not only is he an accomplished artist, musician, and attorney, but he is one of the co-founders and
current Chairman of the Board for the WHJESP,” proudly proclaims Dr. Jones.
“For our eighth event, we wanted to offer additional support for teachers and schools by assigning
STEAM-minded college students to provide after-school project development,” says W. Charles Brandy,
WHJESP Board Member and Director of Social Studies for Buffalo Public Schools. “Some kids want to
participate but need guidance on where to begin. This mentorship can help students conceptualize and
develop their projects, and we hope that it will be an additional support to the teachers as well.
The event is free and open to the public. Guests and participants will enjoy an engaging program
and award ceremony with great prizes for the winners, which include an all-expense paid trip to the
WHJESP STEAM Expedition in Detroit. or the Imagine Fair at Rochester Institute of Technology. For more
information or to register, visit WHJESP.org
About the Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Program:
For nearly 40 years, the Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Program has provided free
programming to under-resourced communities and students in Western New York. These activities include
summer fundamental skills camps for tennis, golf, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, crew, swimming,
creative dance, and STEAM camp. Fall activities include afterschool programming at locations in Buffalo,
and Lackawanna, STEAM curriculum, theater, craft, science and chess clubs, soccer, diversity dance, and steel
drums. Additional programs and events include the Gear Up a Child Program, an annual Science Fair, and an
Essay Contest. For more information, visit WHJESP.org or call (716) 715-4980.
