Science Olympiad comes to Hillsdale
Kat Timpf
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: News
On Valentine's Day, Hillsdale College hosted a Science Olympiad for area high schools and middle schools. Chemistry department professors, faculty and students spent the day as science Cupids, working to increase participants' interests in the subject.
Assistant Professor of Chemistry Chris Hamilton coordinated the competition. He said it featured 23 events for middle school students and 23 for high school students, dealing with subjects ranging from herpetology to astronomy.
Thirteen teams from 12 schools participated. Hudson Middle School's team was the top middle school, and a home school team led the high school division.
Hamilton said he agreed to coordinate the competition after a local middle school teacher told him that local science teams had to travel very far to attend competitions. Hamilton said he felt hosting the competition benefited the students, the college and the 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."
Senior Keri Bishop, who planned and judged an event at the competition, expressed a similar sentiment.
"I did [Science Olympiad] in high school and loved it," Bishop said. "I think [helping was] a great way to do it again."
Hamilton said he received very positive feedback from the schools that participated. Both he and Dean of Science Christopher Van Orman hope to make it an annual event, but must have a departmental meeting before deciding formally.
Assistant Professor of Chemistry Chris Hamilton coordinated the competition. He said it featured 23 events for middle school students and 23 for high school students, dealing with subjects ranging from herpetology to astronomy.
Thirteen teams from 12 schools participated. Hudson Middle School's team was the top middle school, and a home school team led the high school division.
Hamilton said he agreed to coordinate the competition after a local middle school teacher told him that local science teams had to travel very far to attend competitions. Hamilton said he felt hosting the competition benefited the students, the college and the 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."
Senior Keri Bishop, who planned and judged an event at the competition, expressed a similar sentiment.
"I did [Science Olympiad] in high school and loved it," Bishop said. "I think [helping was] a great way to do it again."
Hamilton said he received very positive feedback from the schools that participated. Both he and Dean of Science Christopher Van Orman hope to make it an annual event, but must have a departmental meeting before deciding formally.
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