West Students Shine In Science Tournament
On March 3, the Hawaii State Science Olympiad hosted its eighth annual Statewide Science Olympiad Tournament at Leeward Community College featuring student and coaches from 30 public, private, charter and home schools.
First place in the C Division (high school) went to Iolani School coached by Narayan Raja, followed by Mililani High School led by coach Namthip Sitachitta. Third place went to Pearl City High School and coach Hai Nguyen. In the B division (middle school), first place also went to Iolani, coached by Joanne Lin, followed by Maui Preparatory Academy coached by Carrie DeMott and third-place honors were awarded to Highlands Intermediate School and coach Kathy Lin.
Highlands Intermediate School
Highlands Intermediate School students took third place in the eighth annual Science Olympiad Tournament March 3 at Leeward Community College. The team is pictured here at the Leeward regional tournament in February, where they placed second. They are (back, from left) Brandon Lin, Riley Sodetani, Clement Li, Brennan Hee, Kyra Ikeda, Elizabeth Tsusaki, Taylor Mackinaw and coach Kathy Lin, (front) Ryan Watanabe, Robyn Kaneshiro, Kori Muranaka, Jennifer Loui, Zoe Sano, Riley Yoshihara and Kayla Maki. (Not pictured: Michele Fujita.) Photo courtesy Olympiad staff.
Aside from bragging rights, these tops schools also received athlete-style trophies and an invitation to represent Hawaii at the 28th annual National Science Olympiad Tournament at the University of Central Florida in May. Top students also were awarded Olympic-style medals from members of Hawaii’s STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) community representatives of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Hawaii Academy of Science, Hawaii State Department of Education, Hawaii Science Teachers Association, Pacific American Foundation, University of Hawaii System of Colleges and Syngenta.
Teams were tested in a wide variety of fields including science, biology, chemistry, engineering, genetics, medicine, physics and rock-etry.
“What’s great about Science Olympiad is the hands-on, problem-based nature of the activities. Kids are doing real science with real scientists,” said state director of Hawaii State Science Olympiad Franklin Allaire.
This year’s HSSO schools included Highlands Intermediate School, Kapolei Middle School, James Campbell High School, Kahuku High and Intermediate School, Waianae High School, Moanalua High School, Pearl City High School, University Laboratory School, Punahou Case Middle School, Mililani High School, Hawaiian Classical Christian Academy, Le Jardin Academy, Waiakea High School, Konawaena High School, Kea’au High School, Island Intermediate and High School, Waimea High School, H.P. Baldwin High School, King Kekaulike High School, St. Anthony Junior to Senior High School, Iolani School, Hilo Intermediate School, Kapa’a Middle School, Waimea Canyon Middle School, Maui Preparatory Academy and Lahaina Intermediate School.
