A notable buzz of excitement and expectancy encased the designated “Wakefield High School” locker bay as the Science Olympiad team set up for a twelve hour day of competing and anxious waiting. North Carolina Science Olympiad competition day came and went in a flurry of safety goggles and hard earned medals as each of the team members gave the day their all.

Science Olympiad is an academic competition in which students can demonstrate their knowledge and skill in four areas of science and engineering, while working with partners in a variety of 23 total events.

Months of hard work, trial and error, and relentless studying aided in successfully preparing the team for the unknown challenges of the day.  Laura Stiles, head coach of the team, detailed the results.

“Our Junior Varsity team did really well, they came in fourth out of all the teams that participated,” said Stiles. “Our Varsity team came in about middle of the pack; tenth out of the [28] teams that participated.”

Overall, the team brought home 26 medals across 13 events. Emma Finn, first time Olympiad, expanded on the excitement of the awards ceremony.

“I felt that the whole Wakefield team, both Varsity and Junior Varsity, really bonded during the award ceremony,” Finn says. “It was an unforgettable, exhilarating feeling to know ‘Wakefield’ won numerous medals. I can’t even explain the excitement that the whole team felt at that time.”  

Placing in the events was just the icing on the cake.  Even competitors who didn’t get a chance to bring home a medal brought home a feeling accomplishment after long months of hard work.

“Science Olympiad – while looking great on resumes – is more than just winning medals,” said senior Amelia Davidson, Life Event Leader. “It has helped me grow as a leader and as a science student.”

Not only has Science Olympiad helped students grow as leaders, but it also helped them in explore areas academia.

“ It’s helped me explore career options in the STEM field [STEM = science, technology, engineering, and math],” said senior Olivia Novak, Engineering Leader. “Since Science Olympiad is an extracurricular club, you choose the events you’re most interested in and therefore get to explore some topics more in depth than what’s offered in class.”

Science Olympiad offers a place for students to meet others who share their passions for science, through a community of people all working towards similar goals. It allows competitors to make new friends in the midst of preparing and competing.

“Anyone with a passion for science should participate,” said Finn. “It’s amazing what a group of passionate scientists can do when they put their brains together.”