Classroom competition ramped up Saturday as area middle and high schoolers made the trip to YSU for District Science Day.

Students from a dozen schools across Columbiana, Mahoning, Trumbull, and Ashtabula Counties competed, all working to get to State Science Day and win nearly $500,000 in scholarships and awards.

The event gave students a hands-on experience with the scientific method and exposed them to the peer-review process.

It also improved their performance in STEM disciplines.

Dr. Michael Serra, a biochemistry professor at YSU said, "IT'S AN INQUIRY BASED TYPE PROJECT, STUDENT'S DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER AHEAD OF THE TIME. THE ANSWER ISN'T FED TO THEM. THEY HAVE TO GO OUT AND DISCOVER THE ANSWER THEMSELVES SO IT INCORPORATES THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD, A FANTASTIC METHOD FOR ANSWERING QUESTIONS."

Dr. Serra says he hopes to triple the number of participants for next year's competition