Team qualifies for national competition
Seventeen students from Bothell High will represent Washington state at the National Science Olympiad at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., May 29-31.
The team bested 40 teams from across Washington during the state finals April 5, winning seven events. Each of these teams qualified by winning events at regional competitions during March. In addition to the state finals and the qualifying competition, these students competed in other preparatory invitationals, earning the top spot overall at each.
After months of hard work and preparation, the students investigated, modeled and displayed their expertise in a variety of scientific and technological events, such as the study of forensics, one of the most popular events at the competition. Students were presented with a crime scene and analyzed chemicals, blood spatter, DNA evidence and fingerprinting, just like the police. Another event involved designing a robot to play a small version of basketball.
It will be science-team coach Sheila Guard’s second consecutive trip to nationals. In 2007, she guided Canyon Park Junior High to the competition.
“Most of the students have prepared since last summer, becoming experts in a wide range of science topics,” she says. “This isn’t work, though, it is passion. These kids attack scientific research as one would a sporting event or a game.”
The students must now raise money to travel to the national competition. Tax-deductible donations may be made to the Bothell Science Boosters, attention Robbie Holmberg, 18827 Bothell Way N.E., Suite 101, Box 510, Bothell, WA 98011. Businesses may purchase a spot for their company’s logo on the shirt the students will wear and on the team banner. For information, contact Guard at (425) 402-5572 or via e-mail at sguard@nsd.org.
Individual results
State Science Olympiad competition
First place
• Ecology: Mollie Holmberg and Allen Zhang
• Experimental Design: Megan Lacy, Jon Kussmann and Kellen Donohue
• Heath Science: Abby Sloan and Megan Lacy
• Herpetology: Kelly Fissel and Mollie Holmberg
• Physics Lab: Kellen Donohue and Jon Kussmann
• Rocks & Minerals: Laura Barker and Ellen Fissel
• Wright Stuff: Evan Twedt and Laura Barker
Second place
• Disease Detectives: Abby Sloan and Allen Zhang
• Oceanography: Mollie Holmberg and Allen Zhang
Third place
• Remote Sensing: Megan Ewing and Evan Twedt
• Write It, Do It: Megan Ewing and Evan Twedt
Fourth place
• Astronomy: Megan Ewing and Ellen Fissel
• Boomilever: Abby Sloan
• Cell Biology: Megan Lacy and Mollie Holmberg
• Electric Vehicle: Ellen Fissel and Kelly Fissel
• Forensics: Sebastian Morgan and Emma Bishop
Other students advancing to the national finals: Sam Berkman, Harshad Petwe, Justin Huffaker and Trish Banik.
