Winners of Science Olympiad announced

The Idaho State University Department of Physics has announced the winners of the Eastern Idaho Science Olympiad held in early March on ISU’s main campus.

Seventeen teams of seventh through ninth grade students from Eagle Rock Junior High, Franklin Middle School, Hawthorn Middle School, Irving Middle School and White Pine Charter School competed with robots and catapults, in a forensics challenge, tested their knowledge of amphibians, reptiles and geological processes, and competed in five other fun science events.

Two students from each team could compete in each event.  Students earning first, second and third place in each event were presented with gold, silver and bronze medals. The teams with the highest composite ranking over all events were presented with trophies and cash awards to support science education, courtesy of the J.R. Simplot Company.

A team from Hawthorn Middle School in Pocatello consisting of Ana Barraza, Aaron Briley, Kimberley Lambert, Karen Lei, Christina Mottishaw, Loraine Mottishaw, Nathan Peck and Sarah Saville placed first, receiving a $250 cash award.

Second place and a $150 award went to a team from Franklin Middle School comprised of Kevin Anderson, Tanner Brown, Elizabeth Chacon, Marck Connett, Tonika Keller-Salas, Rebecca Novy, Billy Pretzer, Menno Sennesael and Philip Starovoytov, who were coached by Jan Flandro and Deanna Long.

Third Place and a $100 award went to a team from Eagle Rock Junior High with Nick Addiego, Nathan Cook, Devin Good, Claire McKellar, Krista Stanley, Sergio Velard and Coach Doralee White.

All teams are encouraged to compete in the state competition in Nampa on April 4.  The Idaho champion team will be invited to compete in the National Science Olympiad at Indiana University in May.

The Science Olympiad is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers. The Olympiad was made possible by faculty and student volunteers from the ISU biology, chemistry, geosciences and physics departments, and volunteers from the Idaho National Laboratory.

More information on the Science Olympiad program is available at www.soinc.org.  For more information on the Olympiad, contact Professor Steven Shropshire at shropshi@physics.isu.edu, or 282-2212.