Science Olympiad 2010
by Heidi Scaggs
February 16, 2009
PORTA’S Science Olympiad Teams place 1st and 2nd at WIU Regional
Twenty-one Science Olympiad teams competed in the 23rd annual Western Illinois University regional on Feb. 13. Events planned for the day’s competition tested knowledge of science concepts, science process skills, creativity and engineering. At stake is the opportunity to earn medals for first through fourth place and the chance to compete at state held April 10 at the U of I in Champaign. Approximately 30 plus teams will advance to the state competition from various regionals. Could you identify Fossils, Birds, make a device like the game mousetrap that uses various machines to raise a flag, build an air plane or structurally efficient bridge?? These PORTA students have been preparing for this since November.
PORTA C team powered through the awards to earn the first place trophy. The team had eight firsts, 4 second, 2 thirds, and 5-fourth place medals. The C team medaled in 20 of the 23 events. Other area schools that participated were Canton Macomb, Rochester, Lewiston. Students earning first place in events were Michael Paulsmeyer Tommy Schafer in Astronomy and Fossils; Josh Griffith Tommy Schafer in Cell Biology; J Griffith, Tucker Lynn, Payton Minder in Experiments; M. Paulsmeyer Nic Paulsmeyer in Earth Science; N. Paulsmeyer P. Minder in Ecology; Raymond Phillips N. Paulsmeyer in Egg o naut; T. Lynn T. Taylor Aldridge in Physics/wind Turbines. Second place was earned by Summer Worthington k. Edwards in Disease Detectives; R. Phillips Kevin Thomas in Time; R. Phillips, Braden Schlattweiller K. Thomas in Mission Engineering; T. Schafer, S. Worthington, M. Paulsmeyer in Picture This. Third place finishes: B Schlattweiler R Phillips in Mouse trap vehicles and Bridges; Eli Reiser Taylor Aldridge in Forensics. The C team also earned 5 fourth place medals.
The B team placed second in their division which consists of seventh – ninth graders. Earning first place: Kyle Depatis Matt Muller in Bio-process lab; Heather Brooks Mitch Muller in Ecology; Nic Sinclair Mitch Muller Elevated Bridges; Madison Scaggs Eli Turasky Luke Sinclair in Experiments; Matt Price Zach Creech in Road Scholar; Chris Griffiith Cody Kinsel in Crime Busters; Chris Griffith Logan Shelton in Shock Value; Z. Creech M. Price in Trajectory. They earned second place in the following: C Griffith Cody Kinsel in Anatomy; K Depatis H Brooks in Fossils; Z Creech M Price in Junkyard Challenge; Mitch Muller N Sinclair in Physics/ Wind Turbines. Earning fourth place in four events including Cameron Conklin Kobe Rossi in Meteorology; Kobe Rossi Matt Muller in Solar System.
Both teams will soon start preparing for the State Tournament to be held at the University of Illinois. The top two teams will earn the right to compete at the National tournament which will also be held at the U of I. The U of I will be awarding full scholarships to any C team member that earns a first at nationals and an $8000 scholarship to any B member that places first at nationals. Good Luck to all the team members and their coaches: H. Scaggs, B. Paulsmeyer, R. Phillips, J. Rossi, and M. Schlattweiler.
