MACOMB, Illinois (KWQC) – Around 250 students from middle, junior high, and high school competed Saturday at the Western Illinois University Regional Science Olympiad in Macomb.
The regional competition served as the first step for students hoping to advance to the Illinois Science Olympiad State Tournament and, ultimately, the national level.
Projects span multiple science disciplines
Projects covered multiple areas, including engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, and astronomy.
Elizabeth Pearson, a coach at Carthage Middle School, described what her students brought to the competition.
“My students built all manner of machines, a hovercraft, a scrambler, which is a car that has a launcher and a helicopter,” Pearson said.
Students and educators reflect on the experience
Dr. James LaPrad, director of the School of Education at Western Illinois University, said the event gives students exposure to a range of scientific fields.
“These events excite kids about science and learning science. I think they’re great opportunities to get kids excited about different types of fields in science and engineering,” LaPrad said.
For some students, the competition reinforced future career goals. Ashlyn Brewer, a freshman at Farmington Central High School, said the event shaped her plans.
“It confirmed that I want to go into the medical field. I’ve always enjoyed the human body and studying it in all its aspects. It led me to the conclusion that I want to be a surgeon of some sort,” Brewer said.
Laynie Lekies, an eighth grader at Farmington Central Junior High, said she enjoys the event.
“I like Science Olympiad. It’s pretty fun. I think Tower is one of my favorite and best events I can do,” Lekies said.
Lielah Zacarias, also an eighth grader at Farmington Central Junior High, said she is focused on what comes next.
“The more we learn, the better we’ll get. I’m hoping that we can make a place in state,” Zacarias said.
What comes next
Later Saturday, students learned whether they would advance to state. The Illinois Science Olympiad State Tournament is scheduled for April 18 at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
Estefanía Pinto Ruiz is the water, ag & environment reporter for KWQC TV6 News and The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk. She is also a Report for America corps member.
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