Photo Gallery | Students excel at Science Olympiad

Story submitted by Hannah Greer, Cyber Innovation Center

On Saturday, February 23, an audible clanging coupled with an enthusiastic applause could be heard on the second floor of the student center at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. Upon closer inspection, the distinct clanging sound originated from the numerous medals dangling from the necks of the proud winners at the Louisiana Region III Science Olympiad while the applause came from their proud teachers and parents, who helped prepare them for the 23 challenging team events.

The Cyber Innovation Center’s National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center (NICERC) and Louisiana Tech University partnered together to deliver this incredible learning experience for more than 100 middle and high school students from across the region. For months, students studied and prepared for this year’s regional competition, which includes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) events for Division B (grades 6-9) and Division C (grades 9-12) teams. First, second, and third place medals were awarded to students in each division for events ranging from constructing a free flight rubber-powered helicopter to solving a crime using forensic evidence. After the team event medals were presented, the top two teams in each division were awarded trophies.

The Division B first place winner was St. John Berchmans School and the second place winner was St. Mark’s Cathedral School. The first place winner for Division C was Evangel Christian Academy while the second place winner was Caddo Magnet High School.

The following teams from the Louisiana Region III Science Olympiad will advance to the Louisiana State Science Olympiad: I.A. Lewis School; Caddo Magnet High School; Evangel Christian Academy; Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts; Neville High School; Ruston High School; St. John Berchmans School; and St. Mark’s Cathedral School. The Louisiana State Science Olympiad will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana.

To see pictures and video of the Louisiana Region III Science Olympiad, please visit www.facebook.com/CIC.NICERC.