New Trier’s Science Olympiad squad has shown their scientific prowess by winning first place at the Illinois State Tournament held at the University of Urbana-Champaign. With a total score of 84 points, they beat Adlai E. Stevenson High School of Lincolnshire by just two points. The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools came in third place.
The Illinois Science Olympiad tournaments feature a range of events designed to test teams’ scientific knowledge and skills. This year’s state championship saw New Trier earn numerous medals and honors across various scientific disciplines, marking their first overall win since 2018.
Members of the New Trier team received recognition in several categories at the tournament. Freshmen Kate Kang and Sofia Yang earned 3rd place medals, while sophomores Brian Ren, Elan Hao, Vivian Chen, and Justin Lu each secured 1st place medals. Juniors Malachia Noel, Kevin Huang, Steven Zhao, Varun Murali, and Kaci Morris each earned multiple gold or silver medals, with Nicholas Circolone also receiving a bronze. Seniors Pranshu Rao and Tiana Wu both earned 1st place in two events.
In addition to their success at the state tournament, New Trier also excelled at the regional tournament at Oakton College where they took first place in the varsity category and first and second place in the junior varsity category. With a strong showing at both tournaments, the team is now preparing for the national tournament at Michigan State University on May 25th.
Financial support for New Trier’s Science Olympiad program is provided through the New Trier Educational Foundation’s James Marran Grants program which aims to ensure that all students have equal opportunities to participate in Science Olympiad regardless of their financial backgrounds