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Juniata Colleges Hosts State Science Olympiad Finals

(Posted April 22, 2002)

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HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Students from 71 high schools and middle schools in Pennsylvania will be examining forensic clues from a simulated crime scene, firing rockets into the air, and exploring the world of science at the 2002 Pennsylvania Science Olympiad Finals to be held on the campus of Juniata College, Friday, April 26.

This will be the 11th year Juniata College has hosted the state finals.
"Juniata has been chosen as the site for the 2004 National Science Olympiad, so we are going to use our role as the state competition site to help prepare for the national competition in two years," says Ron Pauline, associate professor of education and Science Olympiad state tournament site director. "We love to host the Science Olympiad because it gives faculty, students and staff a chance to work with some of the best science students in the state."

The students will take part in a variety of science projects across campus at sites such as Brumbaugh Science Center, Knox Stadium, the Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center and the lawn behind Ellis College Center.

The 2002 Science Olympiad begins at 9 a.m. and continues throughout the day, ending with an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. in the sport's center's main gym. More than 1,000 students will compete.

Competitors are separated into two divisions: Division B (grades 6-9) and Division C (grades 9-12).

Teams attending the state finals at Juniata qualified by finishing first or second at one of six regional competitions held in March. Teams finishing first or second in the April 26 state finals will go on to compete in the Science Olympiad National Tournament at the University of Delaware, May 17-18.

The Science Olympiad brings out the talents, resourcefulness and skills of the top young scientific minds in the state as teams create different science projects for competition in 23 events. The events, which can involve individuals or teams, allow students to think creatively while building an elaborate project.

For example, in the Scrambler competition, students will have to affix an egg to the front of a self-propelled vehicle and compete to see how close they can get to a wall with a single push of the vehicle. The egg cannot crack during the competition.

Other events include Mission Impossible, where students build Rube Goldberg-style devices to demonstrate scientific principles; a competition to built the lightest bridge that can hold the most weight; and Science Crime Busters, where students identify various substances in a simulated crime scene.
Other events test knowledge and skills in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, entomology, and physics.

Science Olympiad is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and recognizing outstanding achievements in science education.

For more information on the Science Olympiad, visit the Science Olympiad Web site, www.soinc.org. Juniata College also has a Web site dedicated to the event at www.juniata.edu/olympiad.

The middle schools and high schools with teams in the 2002 Pennsylvania Science Olympiad State Finals are:

B Division - Grades 6 - 9


Kane Area Middle School
Northwestern Region
Clarion Area Junior High School

Indiana Junior High School
Ford City Junior High School

North East Middle School

DuBois Middle School


Shady Side Academy Middle School
Southwestern Region
Peter's Twp. Middle School

Finley Middle School
Huston Middle School

Park Forest Middle School
Central Region
Mechanicsburg Area Interm Sch.

Lemoyne Middle School
Hershey Middle School

Bishop McDevitt Junior High School

Camp Hill Middle School

Welsh Valley Middle School
Southeastern Region
Bala Cynwyd Middle School
Spring Ford Middle School

Stetson Middle School

Fugett Middle School.

Unami Middle School

Chichester Middle School

Peirce Middle School

Fleetwood Middle School.
Centraleastern Region
East Hills Middle School

Wilson Southern Junior High School
Daniel Boone Middle School
Twin Valley Middle School

Stroudsburg Junior High School.
Northeastern Region
Wyoming Area Middle School

G.A.R. Memorial Junior High School
Danville Middle School

Wyalusing Jr/Sr High School
Lake Lehman Intermediate School
Wyoming Valley West Daniel Boone Middle School


C Division - Grades 9 - 12


DuBois Area High School
Northwestern Region
Montour High School

Taylor Allderdice High School
North East High School

Clarion Area High School

Kane Area High School

Shady Side Academy



Plum Senior High School
Southwestern Region
Franklin Regional High School
Ringgold High School

Peters Twp. High School

Somerset Area High School


State College High School
Central Region
Cumberland Valley High School

Bishop McDevitt High School
Hershey High School
Conestoga Valley High School

Carlisle High School

Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School


Harriton High School
Southeastern Region
Lower Merion High School.
Haverford Senior High School
Friends Central School
Penncrest High School

Fleetwood Area High School
Centraleastern Region
Kutztown Area High School
Wilson High School
Liberty High School
Stroudsburg High School
Northeastern Region
Wyalusing Jr./Sr. High School

Wyoming Area High School

Wyoming Valley West High School.

Berwick Area High School
Pittston Area High School
Coughlin High School

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.