Students from 14 middle and high schools across Berrien County are gearing up to participate in the 36th annual Berrien RESA Science Olympiad competition this Friday at Lake Michigan College.
The competition will feature 23 different STEM-related events of varying degrees, and at the end of the day, two teams each from the middle school and high school competitions will move on to the state finals.
Berrien RESA Student Activities Coordinator Tonya Snyder said some of the events are more technology-related, while others are focused on testing the students’ scientific knowledge. Some events will require students to build something ahead of the competition.
“It’s really a great an unusual day for the kids,” Snyder said. “They’re out of the school building and they’re in a higher learning institution setting, so that’s always inspiring and exciting for them.”
Snyder said while just two teams advance, the event allows students to explore STEM subjects in a more hands-on setting and friendly competition.
“We hand out medals and ribbons and swag,” Snyder said. “Anytime you receive a medal for something that you practice at, that can always be exciting and really kind of help them think like, ‘Oh, I was good at that. Maybe I should keep up with that, or try this as a class to take or career to head in that direction, because I knew more than I thought I did.’
“It can be kind of inspiring. It is a really encouraging and fun day for them in the sciences.”
Participating schools include Berrien Springs Middle and High school, Brandywine High School, Buchanan Middle and High school, Lakeshore Middle and High school, Mildred C. Wells Academy, Ring Lardner Middle School, River Valley Middle School, Upton Middle School, St. Joseph High School and Watervliet Middle School.
The competition begins at 9:15 a.m., with an awards ceremony at 2:45 p.m. Winners will move on to compete in the state finals at Michigan State University.
