(Posted May 24, 2004)


HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Triumphing over rain, humid temperatures and more than 100 competing teams, the teams from Fayetteville-Manlius High School in Manlius, N.Y. and Booth Middle School from Peachtree City, Ga. were crowned winners of the 2004 National Science Olympiad at the closing ceremonies this evening at Knox Stadium at Juniata College.

Booth Middle School and Community Middle School from Plainsboro, N.J. finished first and second respectively in Division B of the 2004 National Science Olympiad held Saturday, May 22, at Juniata.

Fayetteville-Manlius High School finished first, and Grand Haven High School finished second in Division C of the 2004 National Science Olympiad.

The competition brought more than 1,800 high school and middle school students from across the country to the Juniata campus. More than 4,000 visitors from states as far away as Alaska, California and Texas came to the campus to cheer on their teams. The students competed in 46 total events - some individual and some team - and earned points.

Attendees were divided into two divisions - Division B (grades 6-9) and Division C (grades 9-12).

The Science Olympiad highlighted the talents and skills of the top young scientific minds in the United States. Booth Middle School took the top team prize in Division B followed by Community Middle School second-place winner, third-place winner Shady Side Academy Middle School, of Pittsburgh, Pa., fourth-place winner Thomas Jefferson Middle School, of Valparaiso, Ind. and fifth-place winner Solon Middle School, of Solon, Ohio.
Fayetteville-Manlius High School, of Manlius, N.Y. took the Division C title followed by second-place finisher Grand Haven High School, of Grand Haven Mich.. The third-place winner was Harriton High School, of Rosemont, Pa.; the fourth-place winner was Troy High School, of Fullerton, Calif.; and the fifth-place winner was Solon High School, of Solon, Ohio.

Juniata is the smallest college ever to host the National Science Olympiad. The college has a student enrollment of 1,350. The college has a national reputation for science education and has a superb record of undergraduate research in such disciplines as biology, chemistry, geology and physics.

Juniata College was chosen as the site of the national tournament because of its recognized and ongoing commitment to the teaching of science. For the entire event-by-event results of all teams competing at the national competition, please go to the Science Olympiad Web site, http://projects.juniata.edu/scioly/national/.

The goals of the Science Olympiad, a non-profit organization, are to improve the quality of science education, increase student interest in science and recognize outstanding achievement in science education. The Science Olympiad involved, nationwide, more than 1 million elementary and secondary school students in classroom activities, workshops and tournaments.

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