Press Release:
Young scientists from middle and high schools across Western North Carolina will gather at UNC Asheville to compete in two separate science events: the Western Region Student Academy of Sciences Competition on Friday, Feb. 26; and the Regional Science Olympiad on Saturday, Feb. 27.
The Student Academy of Sciences Competition will include students from Hanger Hall Middle School and Brevard High School who have submitted a formal scientific paper, evaluated by science professionals. Students will be judged on a combination of their papers and oral presentations, which will take place from 1 – 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith Union. Winning presentations will be certified for entry in the state-level North Carolina Student Academy of Science competition.
The Science Olympiad will include students from 29 middle and high schools competing in 46 events; highlights of the tournament include the elastic launch glider competition and the bottle rocket trial. Events will take place from 9:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Feb. 27 in various locations across UNC Asheville’s campus. The winners of the regional tournament will move on to the statewide tournament later this year.
Competing schools in the Science Olympiad are A.C. Reynolds Middle School, Avery Middle School, Bethel Middle School, Charles D. Owen Middle and High Schools, Cherokee Middle School, East McDowell Middle School, Evergreen Community Charter School, Fairview School, Flat Rock Middle School, Madison Middle and High Schools, Martins Creek School, Polk County Middle and High Schools, Ranger Elementary/Middle School, Robbinsville Middle School, Rugby Middle School, Waynesville Middle School, West McDowell Middle School, Asheville High School, East Henderson High School, Henderson County Early College, McDowell High School, North Buncombe High School, Smoky Mountain High School, T.C. Roberson High School, Tuscola High School and West Henderson High School.
Many volunteers from UNC Asheville as well as volunteers from Sud Associates Consulting Engineers, Western Piedmont Community College, NC BioNetwork, Snap-On Tools, North Carolina State University Engineering, Buncombe Early College and NC Science Olympiad, will staff the Regional Science Olympiad.
For more information on the Regional Science Olympiad, contact Cathy Whitlock, lecturer in mathematics, at cwhitlock@unca.edu, or Judy Beck, lecturer in physics, at jbeck@unca.edu. For more information on the Western Region Student Academy of Sciences Competition, contact Rebecca Hale, assistant professor of biology, at rhale@unca.edu.
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