The Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School Science Olympiad medaled 43 times and placed first overall at the Western Nassau regional competition. As a result, Weber Science Olympiad has now qualified for the New York State Science Olympiad tournament for 21 consecutive years.
Two teams represented Weber at the regionals, and both finished in the top 10 among 40 teams competing at Division Avenue High School last month. In addition to winning the regional competition, Weber Olympiads won the Spirit Award voted on by all coaches and Olympiad event supervisors.
Weber Science Olympiad is comprised of an even balance of 36 students in grades six, seven and eight. The group was already having a very successful season heading into the regional. In February, the team medaled in 28 events and finished in third place overall at the South Shore Seawolves Invitational Science Olympiad held at Islip Middle School. In January, two teams represented Weber at the Rustin Invitational held in West Chester, Pa. Each team competed in 25 events against 61 top schools from New York and six other states. In both competitions, students in each of the three grades earned medals.
Throughout the school year, Olympiad members study after school and on Saturdays, preparing for tournaments and invitational competitions. Christopher Buchman, Dr. Helen Hatzignatiou, CarrieAnn Lindstadt-Iurka and Scott VanKurin coach the group.
“Congratulations to the students and coaches of the Weber Science Olympiad program. They spend a great deal of time around their regular school assignments preparing for these competitions, in which they always excel,” said Port Superintendent Kathleen Mooney. “The program continually impresses as it introduces students to challenges in various STEM-related disciplines, exposing them to dynamic experiences and future career options.”
The New York State Science Olympiad Tournament will be held April 13-14 at East Syracuse Minoa High School. For the past two years, Weber has finished fifth best in the state.
