Annual Regional Science Olympiad held at WNMU 012718

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

The regional Science Olympiad, which took place at the Western New Mexico University gym on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, brought 12 teams from 8 high schools, some of which had two teams.

Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner began the competition in Silver City, while he was teaching at Western. This was the 27th time it had been held. "I directed it for about 10 years, then Bill Norris took it over. Now Eric Casler is running it. I still help every year. It's important to get students involved in these activities."

Another six teams had signed up but did not show up on the day of the event, some because of illness.

Students from high schools and middle schools had pairs of students competing in 22 tests and hands-on activities. Some pairs had to go back and forth from the testing sites in Phelps-Dodge/Martinez and Harlan halls to the gym to compete.

Those high schools that competed include Centennial, Hatch Valley, Hot Springs, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Oñate, Silver and Socorro high schools.

The top eight teams will go to state competition. They are in order from highest to lowest ranks: Centennial, Socorro, Las Cruces, Silver, Oñate, Hot Springs, Lordsburg and Hatch Valley.

Silver High-Team 1 placed first in Towers; second in Disease Detectives, Helicopters, Herpetology, Mousetrap Vehicle and Rocks Minerals; and third in Experimental Design, FERMI Questions, Game On and Mission Possible. The team placed fourth overall. The Silver High Team 2 placed 8th overall but will not advance to state as a team.

Out of 14 middle schools participating, Grant County was represented by Aldo Leopold, La Plata and Snell middle schools. Other schools participating included Cottonwood, Hatch Valley, Picacho, Red Mountain, Sarracino, Sierra and Truth or Consequences. Those advancing to the state competition, in order of highest rank, include Cottonwood, Sierra, Red Mountain, Sarracino, Picacho, Hatch Valley and Truth or Consequences.

Aldo Leopold Middle School placed first in Road Scholar and Roller Coaster, second in Mystery Architecture and third in Meteorology. La Plata placed first in Herpetology and third in Optics and Rocks Minerals. Snell placed second in Battery Buggy. None of the three complete teams will advance to state.

In a story showing the sportsmanship and cooperation among student teams from different schools, La Plata Coach Camille Amador said: "When we were trying our hovercraft, the students didn't know the fan had to be covered. A student from Sierra Middle School heard about the problem and hustled to help us with the material to cover our fan. Later, when Socorro's team had a wire come undone, a La Plata student helped with a soldering iron to fix the problem. I'm really proud of the students, all of them."