CLARION – Six hundred and fifty high school and middle school students will visit Clarion University on March 26, to compete in the Pennsylvania Northwest Regional Science Olympiad. The Northwest Regional is one of six in Pennsylvania from which winning teams advance to state competition.
Science Olympiad is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 science education, increasing male, female and minority interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers. Participating in Science Olympiad tournaments, incorporating Science Olympiad into classroom curriculum, and attending teacher-training institutes achieve these goals.
The competition, coordinated by Dr. Bruce Smith, professor of science education at Clarion University, is divided into two categories, Division C for high school students and division B for junior high school students. Twenty-three teams in Division C and 16 teams in Division B are entered.
The opening ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m. in Tippin Gymnasium. The events will take place from 9 a.m.-2:50 p.m. in various locations throughout the Clarion University campus. An awards and closing ceremony begins at 3:30 p.m. in Tippin Gymnasium. The competition and awards ceremonies are open to the public.
The students will compete in 23 events. The top four teams in each division advance to face teams from the other five regions at the state competition at Juniata College on May 1. The winners of the state competition qualify for the national Science Olympiad at August State University, Augusta, Ga.
High schools competing in Division C include: Brockway coached by Denise Preston, Brookville coached by Richard Wallace, Clarion Area coached by Brian Burford, DuBois Area coached by Douglas Brennan and Mike Mancuso, Franklin coached by Matt Jones, Indiana coached by Carol Anderson, Kane coached by Jodell Barner, Kittanning coached by Cindy Mantini, Laurel coached by Heather Walzer, Maplewood coached by Lynne Bargar, Neshannock coached by Amy Hilton, North East coached by Paul Becker, Oil City coached by Jen McGarvie, Penns Manor coached by George Caroff, Penns Valley coached by John Howell, Redbank Valley coached by Carey Troup and Barb Speer, Ridgway coached by Mary Gelnett and Amy Geist, Saegertown coached by Melissa Statman, Seneca coached by Cecilia Polumbo, State College coached by Jack Lyke, Titusville coached by Ted Banner, Venango Catholic coached by Sherry Cook, and Warren coached by Michelle Lauffenburger and Jennifer Blum.
Junior high schools competing in Division B include: Butler coached by Veronica Sankey, Brookville coached by Richard Wallace, Clarion Area coached by Brian Burford, DuBois coached by Jeffery Bellerillo, Kane coached by Jodell Barner, Laurel coached by Heather Walzer, Maplewood coached by Lynne Barger, Mt. Nittany coached by Joe Walker, Neshannock coached by Sarah Wells, New Castle Christian Academy coached by Barbara Sochor, North East coached by Beth Poor, Oil City coached by Jen Heffernan, Park Forest coached by Steve McAninch, Penns Valley coached by Greg Wilson, Redbank Valley coached by Carey Troup and Barb Speer, and Wattsburg coached by Tim Schweitzer.
Events in Division C include: astronomy, cell biology (process skills), chemistry lab (acids/bases and titration race), disease detective (population growth), dynamic planet (earthquakes/volcanoes), ecology (grasslands/deserts), egg-o-naut, electric vehicle, elevated bridge, environmental chemistry (potable water), experimental design, forensics, fossils, health science (circulatory/skeletal), herpetology, it’s about time, junk yard challenge, physics lab (energy/alternative energy), picture this, remote sensing (human impact on earth), technical problem solving, trajectory, and write it do it.
Events in Division B include: amphibians and reptile, anatomy (circulatory/skeletal), bio-process lab, compute this, crave the wave (wave and wave motion), disease detectives (population growth), dynamic planet (earthquakes/volcanoes), ecology (grasslands/deserts), elevated bridge, environmental chemistry (soil), experimental design, fossils, meteorology (climate), pentathlon, physical science lab, reach for the stars, road scholar, robo-cross, science crime busters, scrambler, trajectory, Wright stuff, and write it do it.
Nearly 5,500 middle school and high schools participate in Science Olympiad; with up to 30 participating students per school, approximately 165,000 students take part. Additionally, 9,000 elementary school participants, coaches, teachers, parents, volunteers, experts, scientists, business leaders, and all of the people at the host sites amount to more than two million people involved in the event each year.
Individual medals, as well as championship trophies for each division, are awarded at tournaments. In addition, cash and tuition scholarships have been awarded in amounts exceeding $1.5 million.
Science Olympiad events meet National Science Standards set by the National Research Council. Teachers searching for curriculum resources, which illustrate standards in action, have found success with the Science Olympiad. The event highlights many of the Teaching Standards, Assessment Standards, Program Standards and Science Education System Standards.
Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.