Regional STEM competition to be hosted at Allen County-Scottsville High School

SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. – A yearly national program is bringing a STEM competition to Allen County-Scottsville High School.

According to an Allen County Schools PR entry by public relations director Don Meador, the Science Olympiad is open each spring for students to compete. He says students from both Allen County-Scottsville High School and James E. Bazzell Middle School have participated in the program for decades.

“What began as a grassroots assembly of science teachers is now one of the premier science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous standards-based challenges to nearly 7,400 teams in 50 states,” say Science Olympiad officials on the Kentucky Science Olympiad website. “Science Olympiad’s ever-changing line-up of events in all Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines exposes students to career choices in the STEM fields, and energizes classroom teachers with a dynamic content experience.”

All tournament competitions include 46 hands-on events in multiple topics, including biology, engineering, technology, earth science and more.

In addition, the website says Science Olympiad seeks to “improve the quality of science education, increase student interest in science and provide recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers.”

Meador says this program has “deep roots in Allen County,” noting how students have reached success at both regional and state levels.

In 2005, he says Bazzell Middle School took first place in state finals and represented the state in national competition.

This year, Meador states school leaders learned about a change in plans.

“This year we were informed that Somerset had cancelled their regional,” explained Science Olympiad coach Austin Byrn. “Shortly after this we were informed our alternative site at Madisonville was also cancelled. This is difficult as we still wish for our students to be able to compete prior to a state competition so they can learn and experience competition.”

Rather than skip the regional competition, it instead found a new home this year at Allen County-Scottsville High School.

The Science Olympiad will take place this Saturday. Find out more by following the Allen County Schools PR/Photos Facebook page here.