Studying and fun might not be used in the same sentence by many high school students, but for members of the Ballston Spa Science Olympiad Team, those two words have a direct correlation. They clock copious after school hours researching online, mastering new facts and constructing science modelsbut they’re doing it with their friends and that’s part of the reason why the extra work doesn’t always feel like work.
I’ve always liked science, it’s kind of been my thing. Getting to study with my friends and learning new things is a lot of fun,` said Catie Bonga, a senior who has been part of the team for two years.
The long hours seem to have paid off. The team recently placed third out of 21 local teams at the regional Science Olympiad competition, qualifying them for the state-wide tournament at West Point Military Academy on March 19 and 20. They won medals in 14 out of 22 events, which range from construction of robots to college-level written assessments in biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, computers and technology. Exams are timed and between 60 and 100 questions.
Bonga did protein modeling, cell biology, fossils and disease detective events. Cell biology and disease detective were written tests where participants were given situational questions. For fossils, she was given specimens to examine, identify and answer questions about. Before the competition she had to build a model of protein and then construct another on site. Bonga chose her events based on AP classes she has taken and what her strengths are and will repeat them at the state tournament, plus add another.
`I’m also going to do mission impossible, which is where you build something before you get there that deals with a series of events; one thing causing something else to happen,` said Bonga.
Bonga said that even though she gets nervous before events, doing them with her friends makes it easier and seeing what she has learned is satisfying.
`Putting in so much time to prepare and then getting there and knowing something on the test is very exciting. It’s been a great experience,` said Bonga, who wants to study engineering in college.
Melissa Hosek is also a senior who’s been on the team for two years, and she said that moment when she realizes she knows an answer is what makes Science Olympiad so cool.
`I see it like a challenge. The people who are giving us the tests are trying to stump us, so let’s see if I can outsmart them,` said Hosek. `It’s very rewarding in the end, when they call your name and you see your school has won events, you say ‘yes, I can do this!`
Hosek participated in astronomy, ecology, cell biology, disease detective, protein modeling events and assisted in a helicopter event. She said trying to explain why Science Olympiad is fun makes it sound `very not fun at all,` but the opportunity to challenge her mind is exciting.
`I call it my winter sport. I stay after school many hours a week and gather information that encourages me to explore things I’ve never thought to explore before,` said Hosek. `It’s one of those clubs where it’s a great group of people so it’s a lot of fun to spend hours with your friends discovering new facts.`
This is the third year in a row the team has made it to states, said K-12 Science Coordinator Diane Irwin, and the tournaments are limited to 15 students.
`When our kids go to state level it allows them to compete against students they normally wouldn’t have and broadens their experience; lets them see challenges they could be facing,` said Irwin. `A lot are students who are successful in school and this is an opportunity to learn more and challenge themselves to learn more.`
Other participants had to build a robot to push off a wooden platform, construct a mousetrap car, built a bridge that had to support a certain weight, made a wind turbine and completed assessments that were a combination of written and hands-on observation.
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