Five Chamlian Armenian School students have advanced to the State Science Fair after earning top honors at the county-level competition, school officials announced.

Hagop Margossian, Talar Kassabian, Leona Abrahamian, Mathew Hartounian and Vahe Yacoubian will be among the 900 middle and high school students competing at the 61st annual California State Science Fair, a two-day event which kicks off Monday, May 2, at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

“It is quite an achievement,” said Lida Gevorkian, science fair coordinator, of the school’s showing. “I am impressed, and I am proud.”

The 5 were among 11 Chamlian students who competed April 16 at the Los Angeles County Science Fair at the Pasadena Convention Center.

Participating students are tasked with designing an experimental research project that exemplifies scientific methodology. The 22 categories include animal biology, chemistry, environmental management and plant physiology, among others.

All projects must be presented to judges using visuals and props that meet guidelines outlined in the competition rules.

At the state level, students are competing for $50,000 in cash prizes. Projects are judged by a volunteer pool of 300 judges, and awards are given for the top four winners in each category, Glendale News-Press reported.