OLM SCHOOL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD TEAM CAPTURES SIXTH STATE TITLE
WILL REPRESENT R.I. AT NATIONAL COMPETITION IN DAYTON, OHIO ON MAY 18
East Greenwich, RI -- Our Lady of Mercy School’s Science Olympiad Team, made up of twenty 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, won its sixth RI State Science Olympiad Competition at Rhode Island College on Saturday, April 20. With 8 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze medals on the state level, OLM placed fourth or higher in 21 out of 23 events. The team will represent RI in the middle school division at the National competition for the second straight year and the sixth time in eight years, winning four consecutive titles from 2006-2009. OLM head coach and middle school science teacher Michelle Lewandowski, along with several parent and teacher volunteer coaches, helped prepare the students with weekly meetings and study sessions, beginning in October. Out of 23 events, which range from building events such as Boomilever and Mission Possible (A Rube Goldberg Device), study events such as Anatomy and Heredity, and Lab events such as Crime Busters and Experimental Design, OLM earned medals in a total of 15 events.
The Gold Medals were earned in Anatomy, Boomilever, Crime Busters, Helicopters, Mousetrap Vehicle, Road Scholar, Rocks and Minerals and Sounds of Music. Silver medals were for Forestry, Mission Possible and Invasive Species. OLM’s four bronze medals were earned in Experimental Design, Heredity, Meteorology and Metric Mastery. Members of the team include the following students: 8th graders: Jake Mueller, Matt Paliotta, Makenna Dacey, Hunter Corbett, Peter Faherty, Michael Cottam, Patrick Petteruti, Daniel Legare, Zach Magiera, Isabelle Lucente, Tim O'Brien. 7th graders: Sean Meehan, Bella Lanna, Alex Lanna, Teddy Hackett, Christina Liberto; 6th grader: Caitlyn Murphy. Support team: Bianca Micolis (8th), Sophia Micolis (7th), Eric Paliotta (6th). The OLM team will travel to Dayton, Ohio for the National Science Olympiad competition, being held on May 18, at Wright State University.