Louisiana Christian University recently hosted the Louisiana Science Olympiad state finals on Saturday, April 13. Sixteen schools from across the state sent middle and high school students to compete for the opportunity to represent Louisiana at the national finals in May. Over 200 students participated in the event, which was hosted by LCU for the first time. Theodore Chiasson, associate professor of computer science and state director of the National Science Olympiad for Louisiana, played a key role in organizing the competition.
The Science Olympiad competition is divided into two categories: Division B (grades 6-9) and Division C (grades 9-12). Each division includes 23 different events where teams of two or three students from each school compete in various science-related challenges. These challenges can range from hands-on activities with pre-built equipment to written exams covering a wide range of STEM topics. The competition covers a variety of scientific disciplines, including robotics, chemistry, optics, ecology, aerodynamics, and plate tectonics.
A total of 46 separate competitions took place during the event, with schools earning first, second, and third place finishes in each event. The rankings from these competitions determined the overall winners, with the first-place teams from each division earning the opportunity to compete at the National Robot Olympiad finals in Michigan in May. The winning schools in Division C were Baton Rouge Magnet School (1st place), St. Martin’s Episcopal School (2nd place), and The Willow School (3rd place). In Division B, the top three schools were Glasgow Middle School (1st place), St. John Berchmans Catholic School (2nd place), and St. Paul’s Episcopal School (3rd place).
The National Science Olympiad is a prestigious national competition that involves participation from all 50 states. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the competition. For more information about LCU’s offerings in natural sciences or to contact Dr. David Elliott, chair of the Department of Natural Sciences, visit the university’s website or email david.elliott@lcuniversity.edu.