FCJHS science Olympians win third place in statewide competition

Fresh on the heels of a regional first place finish, seventh and eighth graders from Fox Creek Junior High School won third place in a just-completed statewide Science Olympiad competition at Arizona State University. Science Olympiad is a national science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program that allows students to apply what they know in a competitive setting. Fox Creek participates in Arizona’s Division B for middle and junior high students. Events are either academic quizzes and tests, or building competitions. Students build items prior to the competition. The Fox Creek team competed in all 24 events, placing in the top ten in every category.

Students also spent time at the Arizona Science Center.

Local students brought home four sixth place ribbons, seven fifth place ribbons, and four fourth place ribbons. In addition, they earned medals for three third place finishes, three second place finishes and three first place wins. As a school, the third place finish was only 2 points out of second place.

“They thoroughly enjoyed the experience,” said Fox Creek science teacher and Science Olympiad coach Frances Martin. “As coaches, it was very exciting to have students come out of competition and explain how they used new knowledge from the Science Center in the final event.”

Participating students included seventh graders Michan Gonzaga, Danna Calvario, Malakai Hack, Valeria Zambrano, and eights graders Chelsea Engelhardt, Elena Rojas, Noah Beck, Zephyr Chavers and Cynthia Graham.

The Fox Creek team was also presented with medals from its first place regional win earlier this spring.

In addition to Martin, Fox Creek science teacher Jamie McCune and Desert Valley teacher Kate Hall continued their multi-year roles as Science Olympiad coaches. This was Fox Creek’s sixth consecutive year competing in the educational event.