One middle school and two high school teams from Kansas took fourth place or higher in events held at the National Science Olympiad competition at Augusta State University in Augusta, Ga., on May 15-16.

At the high school level, Kapaun Mt. Carmel took first place in the elevated bridge event and fourth place in the trajectory catapult. Collegiate Upper School placed second in the elevated bridge event.

In the middle school competition, All Saints Catholic School, Wichita, took second in both the elevated bridge event and in experimental design.

“Out of the top two places for the elevated bridge event at both school levels, three teams were from Kansas,” says Greg Novacek, director of the Kansas Science Olympiad and the Fairmount Center for Science and Math Education at Wichita State University. “Science Olympiad gives students an opportunity to have some fun and in the process learn some science and engineering. It also allows them to receive recognition in an academic endeavor in the same way that a basketball or football player receives recognition in athletics.”

Most states bring only one team for each level, says Novacek; however, the national Science Olympiad office looks at the number of schools which participate in each state. Those states with the most participants are invited to bring a second team.

“This speaks well to the dedication of science teachers across Kansas,” said Novacek.

Local businesses are also dedicated to the program in the way of underwriting, he adds. In addition to supporting the regional and state tournaments, local sponsors provide some travel support to the national competition. These businesses include LSI, BG Products, Boeing, Barton Solvents and Lubrication Engineers.

Each year, Wichita State hosts the state tourney the first Saturday of April. In 2007, Novacek and his staff hosted the National Science Olympiad Tournament.

The Fairmount College, the largest college on the WSU campus, houses the Fairmount Center for Science and Math Education at WSU.

Fairmount College offers majors in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and programs of professional training.