CLARION – High school and middle school students from around the region will compete in the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Science Olympiad at Clarion University on March 25. The Northwest Regional is one of six in Pennsylvania from which winning teams will advance to state competition. Around 650 students are expected to participate.
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, creating a technologically literate workforce and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers. Incorporating Science Olympiad into classroom curriculum, participating in Science Olympiad tournaments, and attending teacher-training institutes help achieve these goals.
The competition, coordinated by Clarion University faculty members Dr. Bruce Smith, professor of science education, and Amanda Haupt, instructor of education, is divided into two categories, Division C for high school students and Division B for junior high school students. Twenty-four teams in Division C and 20 teams in Division B are entered to participate. State College High School and DuBois Middle School finished first in the regional competition the last two years.
Students will participate in 23 events in each division. This year, there are eight new events. The top five teams in each division will advance onto the state competition hosted by Juniata College. The winners of the state competition qualify for the national competition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Ill.
The opening ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m. in Tippin Gymnasium. 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.
High schools competing in Division C include: Brookville coached by Richard Wallace, Clarion Area coached by Brian Burford, Clarion-Limestone coached by Lorna Ondrasik, DuBois Area coached by Douglas Brennan and Mike Mancuso, Franklin coached by Nancy Lunnie, Indiana coached by Carol Anderson, Kane coached by Jodell Barner, Keystone coached by Tyler Chambers, Kittanning coached by Cindy Mantini, Laurel coached by Heather Walzer, Maplewood coached by Lynne Barger, Neshannock coached by Amy Hilton, North Clarion coached by Tracy Durish, 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 Cary Troup, Ridgway coached by Mary Gelnett, Saegertown coached by Andrew Schmucker, Seneca coached by Cecilia Polumbo, State College coached by Jack Lyke, Venango Catholic coached by Sherry Cook, and Warren coached by Michelle Lauffenburger.
Junior high schools competing in Division B include: Brookville coached by Richard Wallace, Butler coached by Veronica Sankey, 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, Mount Nittany coached by Joe Walker, Neshannock coached by Sarah Wells, New Castle Christian Academy coached by Barb Sochor, North Clarion coached by Tracy Durish, North East coached by Beth Poor, Northwestern coached by Dominic Corsini, Oil City coached by Jen Heffernan, Penns Manor coached by Richard Mazey, Penns Valley coached by Greg Wilson, Redbank Valley coached by Carey Troup, Wattsburg coached by Tim Schweitzer, Wilmington coached by Jenn Michaels, and Park Forest coached by Steve McAninch.
Events in Division C include: anatomy & physiology, astronomy, cell biology, chemistry Lab, disease detectives, dynamic planet, ecology, egg-o-naut, elevated bridge, environmental chemistry, experimental design, forensics, fossils, it’s about time, mission possible, mousetrap vehicle, ornithology, physics lab, picture this, remote sensing, technical problem solving, trajectory, and write it do it.
Events in Division B include: anatomy, battery buggy, bio-process lab, can’t judge a powder, compute this, disease detectives, dynamic planet, ecology, elevated bridge, experimental design, fossils, junkyard challenge, meteorology, ornithology, pentathlon, physical science lab, road scholar, science crime busters, shock value, solar system, trajectory, Wright stuff, and write it do it.
Clarion University faculty and students, along with team coaches, help supervise the competition and events. Medals are awarded to top-scoring individuals in each event, and championship trophies are awarded to the Division B and C school teams compiling the most total points during the Science Olympiad tournament.