LIHUE — The minds of students from three Kauai schools might still be spinning after Monday’s sixth annual District Regional Science Olympiad at Kauai Community College. The competition challenges the students to think outside the box when it comes to
LIHUE — The minds of students from three Kauai schools might still be spinning after Monday’s sixth annual District Regional Science Olympiad at Kauai Community College.
The competition challenges the students to think outside the box when it comes to science, technology, engineering and math.
“In the future I want to be a genetic engineer,” said Kaylee Braun, an Olympiad participant from Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School. “I thought starting early would be a good thing.”
Braun’s teacher Joni Ortiz said the 16 students she coached were excited to attend, but her focus wasn’t about winning.
“I didn’t want them running against one another in today’s events here as much as I wanted them competing against themselves,” said Ortiz.
Supervised and judged by volunteers, students were tested in several areas including building circuit boards, the effects of coral reefs on the environment and building model boomilevers. Eleven events are judged throughout the day.
Franklin S. Allaire, Hawaii State Director of the Science Olympiad who helped start the state branch, said many students who have participated in the annual event have earned scholarships to major universities.
“I’m a science geek,” said Allaire. “I was introduced to Olympiad in college myself. It’s like the Olympics where they have skiing, luge and curling, only this is all science and math related.”
Volunteer Tom Ellis lectures at KCC on basic electronics and was intrigued as he watched the students.
“Every time the children come in and sit down, the questions posed to them can be beyond the scope of their knowledge,” said Ellis. “I’m really amazed by the talent on this island.”
Two teams from Island School placed first and second in the middle school division, while the Chiefess Kamakahelei team placed third. Waimea Canyon Middle School also participated. Island High School was the only team participating in the high school division.
• Lisa Ann Capozzi, features and education reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or lcapozzi@thegardenisland.com.
