Some of Beaufort County’s brightest young scientific minds came together in collaboration and competition recently at East Carolina University and in Kinston to compete in two regional Science Olympiad competitions.

Among the schools representing Beaufort County were Terra Ceia Christian School, Bath Elementary School, Northeast Elementary School, Chocowinity Middle School, Beaufort County Early College High School and Northside High School.

“Science Olympiad is a fantastic event, because it really drives home just how wide a world the word ‘science’ covers,” wrote NES band director and Science Olympiad sponsor Brian Campbell. “We had students competing in events that involved human biology, animal biology, chemistry, structural engineering, aeronautical engineering, programming and electronics, and even weather systems — no two events are the same, and it shows students that being ‘interested in science’ doesn’t look the same for everyone.”

With both middle school and high school competitors, teams were divided into two divisions. Ranks were awarded in 23 different events, ranging from a one at first place to a 19 if a school did not participate in a given event. The lowest cumulative totals at the end of the day were the overall winners.

HIGH SCHOOL

For the high school division in the Greenville competition, Beaufort County Early College High School was at the top of the list, ranking eighth overall out of 16 schools, after competing in all but one event. Terra Ceia Christian School, competing in nine events, ranked 12^th at the end of the day. BCECHS’s junior varsity team earned a seventh place finish out of eight schools after participating in nine events.

“We loved coaching this group of bright and motivated students,” wrote BCECHS coaches Tabitha Roberson and Katherine Alligood. “They worked hard and really came together as a team at the tournament.”

Northside High School, meanwhile, participated in the Science Olympiad contest in Kinston on Feb. 16, earning second-place overall in that competition and earning a trip to the state Science Olympiad.

“A true team effort was shown at the competition on Saturday, and because of this effort, the team will be advancing to the state Science Olympiad tournament at N.C. State University in April,” reads a release from the school. “The Junior Varsity team did an outstanding job as well.”

NHS recognized the following students who found success in a variety of events:

1st Place – Herpetology, Ashley Cullom and Samantha Warren

1st Place – Wright Stuff, Matthew Cullom and Chase Smith

2nd Place – Codebusters, Elyse Brinn and Amelia Woolard

2nd Place – Sounds of Music, Matthew Cullom and Chase Smith

2nd Place – Water Quality, Elyse Brinn and Jacob Van Gyzen

3rd Place – Circuit Lab, Justin Bell and Jacob Van Gyzen

3rd Place – Forensics, Wesley Bolin and Jessica Foster

3rd Place – Geologic Mapping, Ashley Cullom and Samantha Warren

3rd Place – Thermodynamics, Natalie Asby and Alicia Rodman

4th Place – Chem Lab, Jessica Foster and Amelia Woolard

4th Place – Dynamic Planet, Elyse Brinn and Jessica Foster

4th Place – Mousetrap Vehicle, Justin Bell and Jacob Van Gyzen

5th Place – Write It, Do It, Natalie Asby and Reagan Dana

Junior Varsity

1st Place JV – Fossils, Brent Holland and Courtney Lilley

1st Place JV – Forensics, Courtney Lilley and David Guy

1st Place JV and 1st Place Overall – Ping Pong Parachute, Zachary Bond and Arie DeHoog

1st Place JV – Water Quality, Zachary Bond and David Guy

1st Place JV – Thermodynamics, Zachary Bond and David Guy

3rd Place Overall – Dynamic Planet, Brent Holland

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL

In the Middle School division, Bath Elementary brought home the bronze, ranking third overall out of 18 schools. Competing in every event, the group accumulated an overall total of 119 points, with lower scores equaling higher ranking. Northeast Elementary followed in 11^th place overall, trailed by Terra Ceia in 14^th and the small, but formidable, Chocowinity Middle School team in 18^th.

“Our team the ‘Blue Comets’ were small but mighty and truly had a lot of fun competing and interacting with other students and tournament staff at regionals,” wrote CMS sponsor Robbin Briley.

CMS victories included:

3^rd Place – Crime Busters, Ben Libengood and Sarah Tucker

 

Northeast Elementary School had a great enough number of participants to form a JV team, which placed sixth overall in that division.

“We take a lot of pride in our SO team at Northeast,” Campbell wrote. “Our kids did very well, bringing home medals in five events.”

NES medal winners included:

1st Place – Ping Pong Parachute, Caleb Jefferson and Alan Plasencia-Garcia

1st Place – Battery Buggy, Caleb Jefferson and Ni’Chaya Weston-Reddick

2nd Place –  Amazing Mechatronics, Jacy Gibbs and Leilani Johnson

2nd Place – Boomilever, Alan Plasencia-Garcia and Kiley Jackson

3rd Place – Roller Coasters, Caleb Jefferson and Alan Plasencia-Garcia

Terra Ceia Christian School winners included:

3rd place – Duct Tape Challenge, Maggie Glass and Violet Ramsey

3rd place – Ping Pong Parachute, Ava Poole and Gabby Jordon

5th place – Herpetology, Heather Rogers and Kayla Clifton