Hillsdale will host Science Olympiad
Kat Timpf
Issue date: 2/19/09 Section: News
This Valentine's Day, Hillsdale College will host a Science Olympiad for almost 200 students from area high schools and middle schools. Nineteen professors and staff and at least 75 students will spend the day working to increase participants' interest in the sciences.
Assistant Professor of Chemistry Chris Hamilton is coordinating the competition. He said it will feature 23 events for middle school students and 23 for high school students, dealing with subjects ranging from herpetology to astronomy.
Hamilton said he agreed to coordinate the competition after a local middle school teacher told him that area science teams had to travel very far to attend competitions. Hamilton said he felt hosting the competition would benefit the students, the college and community.
"It's good for the college because it's a way of reaching out to the community," he said. "It also brings a lot of students interested in science to the college to consider Hillsdale as an option."
Davis Middle School Coach Josh Smith said his team is the first one the school has had in approximately 15 years. Hillsdale's will be their second competition.
"It's a lot of work, and kids put in a lot of effort," Smith said. "We practice every day after school."
Smith said he considers the hard work worth it, because he sees "how science is part of every day life," and therefore a crucial subject for students.
"I'm here for the kids, plain and simple," he said.
The college's division of natural sciences will pay most of the competition expenses, though the chemistry, biology and physics departments will help with some costs. The student affiliate of the American Chemical Society will also fund portions of the competition.
The Michigan State Science Olympiad bought award medals. Teams pay a registration fee of $75.
Senior Keri Bishop, who planned and will judge an event at the competition, expressed her own anticipation.
"I did [Science Olympiad] in high school and loved it," Bishop said. "I think [helping is] a great way to do it again."
Breakout: Fast Facts
Events start at 9 a.m. and will end just after 3 p.m. with an awards presentation to follow at 4 p.m. in the Hillsdale Academy gym.
Competing: seven middle schools and six high schools, the furthest from Sterling Heights, Mich., but mostly from local towns like Adrian and Jackson.
Most events will occur in the Dow Leadership Center, Dow Science, Center and Strosacker Science Center. Egg-o-naut launches will be outside the Dow Center.
Assistant Professor of Chemistry Chris Hamilton is coordinating the competition. He said it will feature 23 events for middle school students and 23 for high school students, dealing with subjects ranging from herpetology to astronomy.
Hamilton said he agreed to coordinate the competition after a local middle school teacher told him that area science teams had to travel very far to attend competitions. Hamilton said he felt hosting the competition would benefit the students, the college and community.
"It's good for the college because it's a way of reaching out to the community," he said. "It also brings a lot of students interested in science to the college to consider Hillsdale as an option."
Davis Middle School Coach Josh Smith said his team is the first one the school has had in approximately 15 years. Hillsdale's will be their second competition.
"It's a lot of work, and kids put in a lot of effort," Smith said. "We practice every day after school."
Smith said he considers the hard work worth it, because he sees "how science is part of every day life," and therefore a crucial subject for students.
"I'm here for the kids, plain and simple," he said.
The college's division of natural sciences will pay most of the competition expenses, though the chemistry, biology and physics departments will help with some costs. The student affiliate of the American Chemical Society will also fund portions of the competition.
The Michigan State Science Olympiad bought award medals. Teams pay a registration fee of $75.
Senior Keri Bishop, who planned and will judge an event at the competition, expressed her own anticipation.
"I did [Science Olympiad] in high school and loved it," Bishop said. "I think [helping is] a great way to do it again."
Breakout: Fast Facts
Events start at 9 a.m. and will end just after 3 p.m. with an awards presentation to follow at 4 p.m. in the Hillsdale Academy gym.
Competing: seven middle schools and six high schools, the furthest from Sterling Heights, Mich., but mostly from local towns like Adrian and Jackson.
Most events will occur in the Dow Leadership Center, Dow Science, Center and Strosacker Science Center. Egg-o-naut launches will be outside the Dow Center.
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