UNCA to host Science Olmpiad Tournament

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Press release here:

Young scientists from 12 middle schools and eight high schools in Western North Carolina will test their talents in the 11th annual regional Science Olympiad Tournament at UNC Asheville Saturday, March 20. The competition will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at various locations across campus.

Each team can field a group of 18 students in a host events ranging from meteorology to food science. Among the day’s highlight will be the “Mission Possible” event, which tests students on their Rube Goldberg-inspired inventions. These inventions consist of complicated contraptions that perform a seemingly simple task.

Volunteers from UNC Asheville, the Colburn Earth Science Museum and the Western North Carolina Nature Center will staff the Olympiad.

Competing schools are A.C. Reynolds middle and high schools, Asheville High School, Cane Creek Middle School, Carolina Day School, Charles D. Owen middle and high schools, East McDowell Junior High, Evergreen Community Charter School, Fairview Elementary School, North Buncombe middle and high schools, Polk County High School (junior varsity and varsity), Rugby Middle school, Mountain Community School, Smoky Mountain High School Valley Springs Middle School and West McDowell Junior High.

The winners of the regional tournament will move on to the statewide tournament later this year.

For more information, contact Cathy Whitlock, UNC Asheville mathematics lecturer and event coordinator, at 828/232-2269 or [email protected].