Science Olympiad Invitational Tournament

On Saturday, February 4, twenty-seven brave Gators faced frigid temperatures to depart at 4 am for a Science Olympiad Invitational Tournament at Princeton University in New Jersey. According to Dr. Yienger, staff sponsor, “This was easily the most challenging competition that the team will face this season. Reservoir teams placed 20^th and 40^th out of 56 teams from the Northeastern U.S.” The team celebrated multiple top-ten finishes and two almost top-ten finishes. Most importantly, the team learned valuable lessons for Regionals at the end of March and States in mid-April.

• 11^th in WiFi Lab                   Lauren Hamlette and Elliesa Abrishamchian
• 11^th in Detector Building           Sean Kim and Ty Grant
• 10^th in Scrambler                 Priscilla Ye and Tori Schlossnagle
• 9^th in Trajectory                   Jackson Durbin and Rachel Le
• 9^th in Bridge                     Elliesa Abrishamchian and Ty Grant
• 8^th in Anatomy and Physiology Julia Chen and Urvi Jain
• 4^th in Forestry                    Priscilla Ye and Ty Grant

Science Olympiad is a nationwide competition that encourages students to explore their interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This annual competition is designed to challenge and inspire middle and high school students to pursue careers in STEM fields. It allows students to showcase their skills, knowledge, and creativity.

The competition consists of a series of events that test students’ understanding of different STEM subjects, including biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science. The events vary from year to year and include hands-on activities, lab work, and written tests. Some examples of events are building a bridge, creating a robot, or solving a crime scene. Ty Grant, senior, has been a member of Science Olympiad since freshman year and he is now a member to three ranking teams for Bridge, Forestry and Detector Building. Grant said, “The competition at Princeton put our team up against some of the best in the nation. I worked with Sean [Kim] on Detector project and we created lever platform with the ability to detect the weight of an unknown object. Sean took the lead on the coding, which was one of the most challenging aspects.” Grant shared that he has seen a positive impact in all of his academic areas, and especially Physics, Biology, and Chemistry classes.

Participating in Science Olympiad is a fantastic way for students to develop their critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork. Students who take part in the competition are able to collaborate with their peers, learn from experienced scientists, and gain valuable experience in the scientific process. Furthermore, participating in Science Olympiad can also help students explore different STEM fields and discover their passions.

To participate in Science Olympiad, students must join a school-sponsored team. The competition is held at both the state and national levels, and teams that win their state competition are eligible to compete at the national level. The top teams from each state are invited to the national competition, which takes place each year in May.

Science Olympiad is open to all middle and high school students, regardless of their prior experience or skill level. It is an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their talents and learn from others who share their passion for science. By participating in Science Olympiad, students will develop their skills, expand their knowledge, and gain valuable experience that will help them succeed in their future careers.

Reservoir students placed in the top ten in Fermi Questions, Scrambler, WiFi Lab, It’s About Time, Remote Sensing, Bridge, Chem Lab, Disease Detectives, Experimental Design, Green Generation, Anatomy and Physiology, Environmental Chemistry and Flight. “We found success, and where we didn’t find success, we found learning opportunities,” said Dr. Yienger. After the competition, the team gathered to discuss the positives, negatives, and chances for growth in their experience.

“I enjoy the feeling of pride and having all your hard work pay off. But I think more than that, I like the community,” Eaton said.

The Science Olympiad Coaches are Dr. Yienger and Ms. McLaughlin.