The Mount Vernon Middle School Science Olympiad placed first in the state Science Olympiad competition Saturday, April 11.
“The students are very excited,” said coach Rob Hanson. “They have been practicing since the beginning of October and competing once a month in Invitationals since November. Some of the Invitationals were online, two were in person (one in Chicago and the one we hosted with Cornell).”
1st Place Medals at state went to: Codebusters – Mason Bany, Matthew Winkler, and Kate Vavricek; helicopter – Oliver Errington and Axel Anderson; heredity – Matthew Winkler and Mia Whitman; hovercraft – Mason Bany and Matthew Winkler; Mission Possible – Zach Poduska and Ruth West; potions & poisons – Kaylee Klinsky and Lilly Slaman; solar system – Mason Bany and Matthew Winkler; water quality – Oliver Errington and Kate Vavricek.
Second place medals at state were: Boomilever – Tyler Teague and Cooper Pisarik; entomology – Tristan Weaver and Mia Whitman; scrambler – Mason Bany and Kaylee Klinsky
Third place medals at state were: anatomy – Kaylee Klinsky and Kate Vavricek; dynamic planet – Oliver Errington and Ruth West; experimental design – Leila Wilford, Ruth West, and Lilly Slaman; meteorology – Oliver Errington and Leila Wilford; metric mastery – Kaylee Klinsky and Kate Vavricek.
This is the fifth time the middle school team has qualified for nationals, with the last time in 2023. Three students on the current team were on that trek to Nationals at Witchita State University.
“At the State Science Olympiad competition, we compete with schools of all sizes,” Hanson said. “It is a big deal that we placed higher than schools from Ames, Cedar Falls, and Iowa City.”
The team of 15 students (four ninth graders, six eighth graders, three seventh graders and two sixth graders) are now preparing for nationals May 22-23 at the University of Southern California, with practices that are being held every weekend.
The trip to California is estimated to cost $35,000.
Hanson said each family will pay a set amount for each student to attend, and the club has money leftover in the middle school account from the invitationals they hosted throughout the year. The Mount Vernon Middle School Parent Teacher Organization are also giving a generous donation to the cause.
That leaves the club with roughly $16,000 to raise between now and May 22. They will be selling flowers before the high school performances of “Matilda” as a fundraiser, hosting a showing of “Meet the Robinsons” at the Bijou Saturday, May 2, at 1:30 p.m. as a fundraiser, a community night at the Marion Pizza Ranch on Monday, May 11, and a Mothers Day brunch Saturday, May 9.
“The students will also sell flavored popcorn and lollipops after school,” Hanson said. “Look for announcements about dates and details. Donations can be made at https://mvfaa.ludus.com/fundraisers/6736. “
Hanson thanked the work of Kristine Butterbaugh, a local travel agent at Kristine’s Wanders, for donating her time to set up the travel arrangements and costs for the trek to nationals.