Student teams from Northville’s high school and two middle schools swept the Regional Wayne Monroe Science Olympiad Tournament last Saturday, March 26th. A fifteen-member team from Northville High School took first place among twenty local high schools. Meads Mill and Hillside middle schools ranked first and second among 24 schools.  The competition was held at the University of Michigan Dearborn. 

Science Olympiad is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 science education, increasing interest in science, creating a technologically-literate workforce, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement. 

What began 27 years ago as a grass root collaboration among science teachers is now one of the premiere science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous, standards-based challenges to nearly 6,200 teams in 50 states.  Science Olympiad's ever-changing event lineup provides exposure to a variety of career choices.

Mentored by parent volunteers, Northville’s high school and two middle school teams outscored strong teams from the area, including perennial powerhouses from the Plymouth Public Schools and Woodhaven.

The success of all three teams is unprecedented, paving the way for each team to represent Northville at the State Tournament at Michigan State University on April 30th.  This is Hillside’s third consecutive year making it to the State Tournament.  Meads Mill last went in 2009, and Northville High School in 2007.

Events have names like “Bag of Bones,” “Forensics,” “Write-it-Do-it” “Helicopters,” “Anatomy,” and “Mouse-Trap Vehicle.”  In “Sounds of Music,” high school students build and play a percussion and woodwind instrument of their own design.  Two team members play both a required duet and a composition of their own creation, and then they respond to questions about wave mechanics and acoustics.

Individual events revolve annually, reflecting the ever-changing nature of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology.  Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation, with students working collaboratively on academic, laboratory and “build” events.  

In addition to the team victory, Northville High School’s squad took first place in eight of twenty-one events.

“I don’t care what place they finish – they are all winners!” said Becky Marks, whose two sons are on the Hillside and Northville High School teams.

“The students who participate go beyond the classroom environment to explore specific scientific fields of interest.  The medals are important to the students now, but the best part of Science Olympiad is the self-assuredness that comes from mastering technical concepts in practical settings.”

To learn more about Science Olympiad, please visit the national website at www.soinc.org.