The New Trier High School science Olympiad team recently clinched the state championship title at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on April 20. This marks a return to the national finals at Michigan State University in East Lansing, an achievement last accomplished in 2018.
Science Olympiad competitions involve teams of 15 students participating in 23 different events that assess their knowledge and skills across various scientific disciplines. Teams are ranked based on their performance in each event, with the lowest overall score winning the championship.
During the state championships, New Trier went head-to-head against 24 other teams and emerged victorious with first place in eight events and second place in five others. With a total team score of 84 points, they outpaced the runner-up, Stevenson, by just two points to claim the top spot.
Individual students also excelled at the competition, with many earning medals for their outstanding performances. Leading the way was junior Malachi Noel, who contributed to four first-place teams. Vivian Chen followed closely behind with three first-place events. Other standout students included Prashu Rao, Tiana Wu, Kevin Huang, Varun Murali, and Stephen Zhao, each contributing to two first-place finishes.
New Trier’s journey to the state championship began at the regional tournament on March 9 at Oakton College, where they won an impressive 18 out of 23 events. This commanding performance helped them secure a first-place team finish and advance to the state level of competition.
The success of New Trier’s science Olympiad team is made possible through funding from the New Trier Educational Foundation. As a nonprofit newspaper, The Record relies on reader support to continue providing independent local journalism. Readers can subscribe to The Record or make a tax-deductible donation to contribute to responsible news coverage in their community.