So, a few months ago, I won one of ten Academy of Science Honors Division scholarship, which was the product of several months of work, lots of nerves, around 100 dollars, and many prepared presentations.

Last weekend, I received one of two total SunEdison scholarships, which was the product of bringing in my poster from the last fair.

Here’s how it worked: Peggy Nacke, the Honors fair director, sent all of the honors kids an email telling us we were registered in the St. Louis Queeny Park Science fair, and that if we wanted, we could instead judge all the elementary school projects. The thing is, I already had plans for that Saturday, and I didn’t really have enough time or interest to judge baking soda and vinegar volcanoes.

So, on Tuesday, I carried in my big poster and was directed to a small corner of the room, where two tables with black tablecloths were mostly empty. It was roped off with a sign that said “HONORS DIVISION” in big bold letters.

Nacke told me that on Thursday I should check the fair website to see what I had won, and then stop by on Friday to pick up my poster and awards.

So I did; it was weird, I checked out the website, saw I had won a prestigious award, and then did my chemistry homework. When I went back to the fair, it was almost empty despite the expansive rows of posters. The Honors Division area was now full of posters, but mine had no awards by it. In fact, none of them did.

I went to the table where Nacke was sitting and asked her what the deal was. She then reached under the table and produced a folder of checks and certificates for me.

“If you want a ribbon, by the way, take as many as you want. The blue ones are supposed to be the best, but the white and gold ones are so pretty”, Nacke said.

So I took a ribbon and a picture with my poster, and then left. No presentations, no ceremony, but also no stress. I don’t know which fair I liked more, but it’s nice to just pick up my awards and leave.