Middle, high schoolers enjoy STEM-ulating time at Regional Science Olympiad at MTSU

Central Magnet School teammates Lucas Naron, left, and Cooper Godbey operate their project in the Wind Power event taking place during the annual Regional Science Olympiad competition for high school and middle school teams Saturday, Feb. 17, in a Middle Tennessee State University Science Building classroom. Placing fourth, Central advanced to the April 6 State Science Olympiad in Knoxville, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)

By day’s end — from the super competitive events held in the morning and afternoon to the always exciting awards ceremony — the recent Regional Science Olympiad at Middle Tennessee State University sent nine teams to the upcoming State Science Olympiad.

Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tennessee), Father Ryan and Hume-Fogg Academic (Nashville) and Central Magnet (Murfreesboro) were the top four high school teams. Merrol Hyde (Hendersonville), Fred J. Page (Franklin), Central Magnet, Rossview (Clarksville) and Smyrna were the top five middle schools.

Middle school students use a marble as they begin to compete in the Roller Coaster event during the Regional Science Olympiad Saturday, Feb. 17, in the Middle Tennessee State University Science Building. About 300 combined middle school and high school students, 70 volunteers and 50 teachers and parents attended the event. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)

The tournaments drew 300 students to the annual event, held Saturday, Feb. 17, to MTSU’s Science Building, Davis Science Building, Wiser-Patten Science Hall and Alumni Memorial Gym.

Science Olympiad is a team competition where students in both divisions compete in 23 events related to various fields of science.

The budding scientists learned teamwork and principles of STEM —science, technology, engineering and mathematics — during the all-day event that featured middle school activities like “Microbe Mission,” “Dynamic Planet,” “Road Scholar” and “Can’t Judge a Powder” and high school challenges that included “Code Busters,” “Robot Tour,” “Air Trajectory” and “Experimental Design.”

Hume-Fogg Academic High School students from Nashville, Tenn., take measurements of their Tower event project before learning how much weight it will bear in the Regional Science Olympiad Saturday, Feb. 17, in the Middle Tennessee State University Science Building. Thirteen middle school and 13 high school teams competed in the all-day event. Hume-Fogg’s high school team placed third and advanced to the State Science Olympiad in April in Knoxville, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)

A volunteer from Nissan, left, oversees a wind-aided project conducted by two students competing in the annual Regional Science Olympiad Saturday, Feb. 17, in the Middle Tennessee State University Science Building. There were 300 middle school and high school students vying for team berths in April’s State Science Olympiad. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)

Dr. Kevin Ragland, associate director, Tennessee STEM Education Center — Dr. Kevin Ragland

“The kids cheering and clapping in such a great venue (large classroom in Learning Resources Center). It’s a lot of fun,” said Kevin Ragland, assistant director in the Tennessee STEM Education Center, the campus organization organizing and operating the event after chemistry professor Pat Patterson handed it off after more than 20 years as chief organizer.

About 70 volunteers, including MTSU students and faculty and nine Nissan engineers, assisted with the event.

Advancing teams will compete at the state tournament Saturday, April 6, at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

The Tennessee STEM Education Center will host a STEM fair led by Central Magnet students for Rutherford County elementary school students on Saturday, Feb. 23, and will run the annual Elementary Science Olympiad Saturday, April 27, at John Pittard Elementary School.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)