New Hyde Park Memorial High School’s Science Olympiad team competed at Kellenberg Memorial High School on February 7. The competition was part of the Nassau West Regional Science Olympiad Competition, bringing together schools from across the area to compete in a wide range of science-based events.
Led by adviser Mr. Freiberg, approximately 30 students prepared to participate in the annual competition. Members competed in events that tested their scientific knowledge in fields such as forensics, anatomy and entomology. Students worked in groups of up to three members, depending on the event, with collaborative events such as Experimental Design requiring teams to work closely together.
“Science Olympiad has always been a way to explore other interests that aren’t necessarily taught in class or that you don’t have room for in your schedule,” President Emily Lee said. “As president, I help organize a lot of behind-the-scenes things, such as plans for meetings and bringing our ideas to life with Mr. Freiberg’s help!”
This year, a number of traditionally test-based events were replaced with build events, which require students to design and construct devices that meet specific performance criteria. These events demanded increased time, precision and problem-solving skills from participants.
This year, the club implemented several changes to improve efficiency and overall performance. The team competed in all 23 available events at regionals rather than selecting only a limited number, further increasing the level of preparation and commitment required from members. During meetings, attendance and progress checks were introduced to ensure members are actively preparing for their events. Additionally, the team hosted a hot cocoa and cookie sale to fundraise for supplies needed for building events. Due to low participation, the third team, Team C, was dissolved, and its members were reassigned to events within Teams A and B.
Science Olympiad is a club that allows students to explore their interests in science through competitive events. The events are divided into build, test, laboratory, or hybrid events. For build events, students focus on designing and constructing effective, efficient devices. Test events require participants to complete written exams on specific topics. In laboratory events, students are required to showcase their practical skills and complete hands-on activities. Hybrid events combine both testing and laboratory components.
Students expressed a range of perspectives on their experiences competing in Science Olympiad.
“The Science Olympiad process has a lot of trial and error, figuring out what sources actually help, and a lot of cramming the night before the competitions,” junior Harine Balasubramaniyam said. “We work very hard and have lots of fun during the competition. It’s all worth the memories in the end.”
“Science Olympiad is run by a group of people that are unable to guide new members nor provide them with sufficient information to succeed in their activities. The club causes members to invest time and resources without sufficient support or return,” senior Allen Yuan said. “The officers are unable to manage the club well enough and are in a position where they should be of more use, but they spend their time wasting the time of other members.”
Despite differing perspectives on the club’s organization and preparation process, the team’s efforts led to notable results at the regional competition.
Chemistry Lab • First Place (A) and Sixth Place (B)
Machines • Sixth Place
Anatomy & Physiology • Seventh Place
Forensics • Eighth Place
Team A placed 19th overall while team B placed 32nd out of 41 schools.
“Science Olympiad is a day to explore the applications of science and technology,” adviser Mr. Freiberg said. “I was very excited to hear back from students about their events and for the results to see how we placed.”
“Science Olympiad was kind of stressful, because I had to run back and forth all day, but it was really fun!! The awards ceremony took a long time to start, and they ended up putting on a few movies and some Just Dance videos for the students. It was super funny, and I think I’ll really, really miss competing after going to college,” senior Ava Su said.
“My experience at Kellenburg this year was definitely fun and enjoyable. Proud of my placements overall and especially happy to take home first in Chem Lab,” senior Sebastian Song said “The vibes were definitely positive and our team spirit felt extra up this time around. Overall it was a great time and I’m gonna miss these events and Sci Oly as a whole very dearly.”
Looking ahead, the team hopes to advance to the state-level and invitational competitions and continue strengthening their performance in future tournaments. Overall, Science Olympiad provides students with an opportunity to explore unique scientific topics and develop new skills, helping them discover interests beyond the classroom.
