The Providence Academy Science Olympiad Team did an impressive job at the Minnesota State Tournament on March 14 at St. Olaf College. Though some team members could not attend due to spring break plans, those that came worked together to cover all events and achieved 9th place overall out of 32 teams. PA students had four events scoring in fifth place: Ava Raffel and Amaryllis Hennessy in Anatomy, Ava R. Amaryllis H. and Lily Cadwallader in Experimental Design, Peter Flanders and Aaron Kim in Elastic Launched Glider, Dylan Drean and Griffin Seppala in Bioprocess Lab. Several 6th place finishes were awarded to Luke Tessier and Adam Huser for Dynamic Planet, to Dylan Drean and Lane O’Meara for Can’t Judge a Powder, and to Ava Raffel and Lily Cadwallader for Write It-Do It. Danny Hogan and Justin Kim scored in 7th place for Solar System and Dylan Drean and Lane O’Meara scored in 8th place for Crimebusters. Cole Straszewski and Sean Donohue built a Wheeled Vehicle that came in 9th place. Luke Tessier and Amaryllis Hennessy came in 9th place for Fossils. Dylan Drean was assisted at the last moment by Aaron Kim to earn 9th place for Road Scholar.
Mrs. Elise Sheehan and Mr. Matthew Smith spent the afternoon running the Bioprocess Lab event, assisted by Mr. Sheehan and parent Mrs. Deb Seppala. Mr. Dan Fisher coordinated the Providence team movements, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Seppala, Mr. and Mrs. Cadwallader, Mrs. Karen Tessier, Mrs. Hogan, Mrs. Tammy Drean and Mr. Tim Hennessy. Coaches Sheehan, Fisher and Smith extend their thanks to the parents who supported the team throughout the year.
Science Department Chair Mrs. Elise Sheehan will attend a meeting in June to choose next year’s events and tournament sites. The Science Olympiad Moodle page will remain up during the summer to give students a preview of the next season. Congratulations to all the members of Providence Academy’s Science Olympiad Team.