We Did It Again!

Two years in a row, St. Paul's Science Olympiad team took first place honors in Regional competition. WooHoo! I am one happy sponsor.

It is so hard to tell from year to year what type of successes we will have. Our students work very hard and are serious about their performance. Our students and parents are elated.

For those of who do not know:

Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets, consisting of a series of 23 team events in each division (Division B is middle school; Division C is high school). Each year, a portion of the events are rotated to reflect the ever-changing nature of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology. By combining events from all disciplines, Science Olympiad encourages a wide cross-section of students to get involved. Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation. Through Science Olympiad, students, teachers, parents, principals and business leaders bond together and work toward a shared goal.

Teamwork is a required skill in most scientific careers today, and Science Olympiad encourages group learning by designing events that forge alliances. In Elevated Bridge, an engineering whiz and a kid from wood shop can become gold medalists. Similarly, a talented builder and a student with a good science vocabulary can excel in Write It Do It, one of Science Olympiad's most popular events.

The culmination of nearly 300 regional and state tournaments is the Science Olympiad National Tournament, held at a different university each year. This rotating system gives students the opportunity to visit new parts of the country and tour colleges they might consider for their undergraduate studies, and provides a memorable experience that lasts a lifetime.  

Here's a breakdown of how we did this year:

Our team placed 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd in 17 of 23 events.

·       Air Trajectory (coach: Mr. Hermo): 1^st place {Stone & Vincent}

·       Anatomy & Physiology (coaches Hannah Albritton & Doug Bostick) : 3^rd place {James & Grant}

·       Bottle Rocket (Mr. Hermo): 3^rd place {James & Armand}

·       Crave the Wave (Mr. Carrier): 1^st place {Brian & Antonio}

·       Crime Busters (Dr. Lillis): 1^st place {Andrew & Crane}

·       Disease Detectives (Rusty Gutierrez): 2^nd place {Stone & Janey}

·       Dynamic Planet (Mrs. Schwank): 1^st place {James & Antonio}

·       Elastic Launch Glider (Rusty Gutierrez): 2^nd place {Josh & Kaylee}

·       Food Science (Gillian Eggleston): 1^st place {Janey & Rachel}

·       Fossils (Mr. Thompson): 1^st place {Brian & Ben}

·       Invasive Species (Mrs. Farnsworth): 2^nd place {Crane & Brian}

·       Mission Possible (Mrs. Malone): 3^rd place {Crane & Erica}

·       Picture This (Gwen Bostick): 1^st place {Janey & Erica}

·       Reach for the Stars (Mr. Parks): 2^nd place {Brian & Vincent}

·       Road Scholar (Mr. Chopin): 2^nd place {Grant & Andrew}

·       Scrambler (Mr. Hermo): 2^nd place {Armand & Antonio}

·       Wind Power (Gerald Myers): 1^st place {Ben & Armand}

Our team now will prepare for State Competition on Saturday, April 9 at Southeastern University in Hammond. Stay tuned.

And thanks to the many of you who gave us well wishes.

1st place, y'all!