Two teams from Hacienda La Puente Unified School District schools made their mark at this year’s Science Olympiad regional tournament.
Glen A. Wilson High School took first place overall in the high school division of the Science Olympiad Los Angeles Regional Tournament held on March 2 at Rio Hondo College. Cedarlane Academy took fifth place in the middle school division.
Both school teams qualified to advance to the Southern California State Tournament that will be held at Caltech in April.
“At Hacienda La Puente Unified, we are huge advocates of inspiring future leader in STEM-related college and careers pathways and look forward to seeing our students continue to explore their passions and love of science education,” Superintendent Alfonso Jiménez said in a statement.
Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the science quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievements in science education by both students and teachers, according to their website.
A Science Olympiad tournament is a day-long event where students work in teams to compete in 23 events – which change from year to year – that cover fields and topics such as biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, geology, and more. Some events consisted of scientific facts and concepts, while others focused on building, coding, and other hands-on practices.
Wilson High’s team competed against more than 60 Los Angeles County schools during this year’s regional tournament. They have now earned first place for three consecutive years.
“Our team has a track record of getting first at regionals and it felt good to claim that spot once again,” said Wilson’s Science Olympiad Captain Emily Chang.
Chang’s goal for the team of 25 students is to rank higher than fourth place this year at the State tournament, as the team has not ranked higher than that before. She believes that the team has a good chance this year.
“We are happy with the results and efforts our students have put into Science Olympiad,” said Jungsoo Han, teacher and Science Olympiad coach at Wilson. “We have students on our team who have been doing Science Olympiad since the fourth grade and it’s something they really enjoy doing because they get to compete against the best students in LA County.”
At Cedarlane Academy, students put in lots of work to prepare for the tournament as well.
“The students were very dedicated and excited to participate,” said Jessica Gabela, teacher and Science Olympiad coach at Cedarlane. “They studied long hours preparing for their events.”
The middle school students practiced at school, on their own, outside of school, and with the high school team as well, she added.
“It was an honor to work with such amazing students and parents,” Gabela said. “I also feel very fortunate to have such a supportive administration who helped our team through our entire journey.”
Science Olympiad is just one of the many STEM related activities students at Cedarlane can join, there is also a cyber patriot team on campus. The school also was recently recognized as a California Schools to Watch.
“I am immensely proud of our students. Their achievements reflect the dedication of our teachers, the support of parents, the determination of students themselves, and the fruitful collaboration with Wilson High School,” said Cedarlane Academy Principal Kim Lee. “I couldn’t be prouder of our team for their unwavering commitment and daily efforts, all while fostering a genuine enthusiasm for learning and exploring the wonders of science.”
