SUNY New Paltz to Host State Science Olympiad for fifth year

NEW PALTZ — For the fifth year, the State University of New York at New Paltz will host 36 middle schools at the 2002 New York State Science Olympiad.

“These events provide a great opportunity for the middle school students to get involved with doing science, not just reading about what goes on in these areas,” said John Harrington, dean of the SUNY New Paltz School of Physical Sciences and Engineering. “Activities like the Science Olympiad can be a catalyst for starting many of these students down the road in pursuit of science and engineering careers. It is a great day for learning and fun.”

The students participating in the exciting event on Saturday, April 20, have already won competitions on a regional level and are now competing on a state level of inter-school competition in 25 areas of scientific and technological skills. Winners will then go on to a national competition.

The Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. The Olympiad, originated in Delaware in 1984 and started in New York in 1985, has grown to include all 50 states, totaling more than 14,000 actively-participating K-12 schools.

The Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of individual and team events. The competitions follow the format of popular board games, TV shows and athletic games. Events have been designed to recognize the wide variety of skills that students possess and emphasize advanced learning in science through active, hands-on, group participation – intended to remind students that science can be fun and challenging.

“This is a sneaky way for them to learn science,” said Harold Miller, chairman of the N.Y. State Science Olympiad. “The students come to the Science Olympiad because they are interested in science, they learn from it because they choose to, and therefore they enjoy it more.”

This event is organized by the New York State Science Olympiad, sponsored by DuPont and is supported by the SUNY New Paltz Center for Continuing & Professional Education, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the School of Physical Science and Engineering.

The Science Olympiad is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. All news media interested in covering the event should contact Public Affairs at 257-3245 by Friday, April 19, for details.

Science Olympiad Events Open to Media Coverage

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Battery Buggy, Elting Gym
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Bottle Rocket, Athletic Fields
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Bridge Building, Coykendall Science Building Auditorium
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Egg Drop, Fine Arts II Lobby
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Pentathlon, Athletic Fields

Participating schools include:

Amherst Middle School, Snyder
Ardsley Middle School, Ardsley
Armstrong Middle School, Ontario Center
Brother J. Fox Latin School, Uniondale
City Honors School, Buffalo
C.J. Hooker Middle School, Goshen
Cooperstown Central School, Cooperstown
C.P Weber Middle School, Port Washington
Dyker Heights Intermediate School, Brooklyn
Eagle Hill Middle School, Manlius
George Ryan Junior High School, Fresh Meadows
Great Neck North Middle School, Greatneck
H.C. Crittenden Middle School, Armonk
Hicksville Middle School, Hicksville
Highland Middle School, Highland
Howard Goff Middle School, East Greenbush
Islip Middle School, Islip
Louis Pasteur Middle School, Littleneck
Maine-Endwell Middle School, Endwell
Mill Middle School, Williamsville
Museum Middle School, Yonkers
Onondaga Hill Middle School, Syracuse
Paul Gelinas Middle School, Setauket
Pittsford Middle School, Pittsford
Port Jefferson Middle School, Port Jefferson
Poughkeepsie Middle School, Poughkeepsie
Richard Stank Junior High School, Conklin
Robert Cusman Murphy Junior High School Stoney Brook
Roslyn Middle School, Roslyn
Roxboro Middle School, Mattydale
Roxbury Middle School, Roxbury
Sarsdale Middle School, Scarsdale
South Woods Middle School, Syosset
Wellwood Middle School, Fayetteville
West Middle School, Binghamton
Willink Middle School, Webster