U of I hosts Science Olympiad National Tournament this week

This week, the University of Illinois will host the Science Olympiad National Tournament (SONT). From May 20-22, the National Science Olympiad will bring approximately 2,500 middle and high school students, together with 2,500 coaches, family members, and state directors to the Urbana campus.

This year’s theme is Imagine, Illuminate, Integrate. Jerry Fiddler, a university alumnus, and founder of Wind River Systems and Solazyme, will deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremony. 

On Friday, May 21, the College of Engineering has invited all Olympiad participants to the engineering campus, along with their parents and coaches. From 9:00-11:40 a.m., engineering departments, research centers, and programs will offer an array of tours and presentations.

“The tours will provide an excellent opportunity for recruitment of some of the top students in the nation,” according to Susan Linnemeyer, director of special programs for the College of Engineering.

The tours will be followed by a pizza lunch for the participants on the north side of Engineering Hall, hosted by the College of Engineering. During the lunch hour, a high-altitude weather balloon will be launched from the Bardeen Quad.

This year, a STEM Majors Fair will also be held during the lunch hour on the Bardeen Plaza (open area between Everitt Laboratory and Engineering Hall). There, prospective students can find out more about the various engineering disciplines, course requirements, undergraduate research experiences and options within majors. All engineering departments, NCSA, iFoundry, in addition to STEM departments, colleges, and units across campus will participate. 

The Olympiad initially involves about 2 million students annually in grades K-12, with 6,000 teams in grades six through 12 actively competing in regional, state and the national tournament. The mission of the program is to enhance the quality of science education, to create a passion for science among young people and to reward both students and teachers for academic achievement.

SONT headquarters will be at the Illini Union. The Parade of States and opening ceremony will take place at the Assembly Hall; competitions will be held at sites throughout the campus.

Last fall, the U. of I. has announced a continuation of the 2005 SONT scholarship program in conjunction with the Olympiad whereby high school gold medalists and team champions who gain admission to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will be awarded four-year tuition waivers. The program also offers rewards to middle school gold medalists and team champions. If they ultimately apply and are admitted to Illinois, they will receive a $2,000 annual scholarship each of their four years as undergraduates.
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Contact: Susan Linnemeyer, College of Engineering, 217/244-1816.

If you have any questions about the College of Engineering, or other story ideas, contact Rick Kubetz, Engineering Communications Office, 217/244-7716, editor.