The Louisiana Science Olympiad state finals were recently held on April 13 at Louisiana Christian University, welcoming middle and high school students from across the state. Over 200 students participated in the competition, showcasing their skills and knowledge in various scientific disciplines. This was the first time that LCU had the honor of hosting the event, as pointed out by Theodore Chiasson, an associate professor of computer science who currently serves as the state director of the National Science Olympiad for Louisiana.
The competition featured two divisions: Division B for grades 6-9 and Division C for grades 9-12. Each division included 23 events, with teams of two or three students from each school competing in different challenges. The competitions covered a wide range of STEM areas, from robotics to chemistry to optics to ecology and more. With 46 separate competitions and first, second, and third place finishes, the schools’ rankings were determined based on their performance.
In the Division C category, Baton Rouge Magnet School secured first place, followed by St. Martin’s Episcopal School in second place, and The Willow School in third place. For Division B, Glasgow Middle School took home first place, with St. John Berchmans Catholic School and St. Paul’s Episcopal School claiming second and third place, respectively.
The National Science Olympiad is a prestigious national competition that involves participants from all 50 states, and this year marks its 40th anniversary. For more information about LCU’s natural sciences offerings
