Driver Middle School Science Olympiad Team Qualifies for State Championships

Congratulations go out to the Driver Middle School (DMS) Science Olympiad Team on their 4th place finish (out of 28 teams) at the Regional Science Olympiad competition held on March 6, 2010 at East Syracuse-Minoa High School. The Science Olympiad is an international non-profit organization “devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science.” The Science Olympiad tournament begins at the regional level and progresses through state and national competitions. The tournaments provide for “rigorous academic competition that consists of team events” relative to a variety of science topics. The exceptional 4th place finish qualifies the DMS team for the New York State Science Olympiad Championship to be held on April 30th-May 1st at SUNY New Paltz. This marks the fourth year in a row that the DMS team has qualified for the state championships much to the delight of Coaches Hannah Naczi, DMS science teacher and Jessica Hehl, DMS science teacher. The DMS team medaled in ten events on their way to the 4th place finish. Their success is reflective of the several months of preparation, creativity, and dedication that the DMS competitors put into their individual projects. The team is coached by Hannah Naczi/DMS science teacher and Jessica Hehl with an assist from high school student Eric Morris and Bill Orecki, parent/community member. Individual medal winners from the DMS team include:

1st Place
Holly Grosholz, Casey Cabrinha – Write It-Do It

2nd Place
Taylor Walker, Julie Powers - Science Crimebusters

3rd Place
Elizabeth Dean, Joe Isgar - Bio-process Lab
Julie Powers, Meghan Greenfield – Disease Detective
Elizabeth Dean, Meghan Greenfield – Fossils

4th Place
Colin Cusick, Emily Houser – Bio –process Lab
Elizabeth Dean, Meghan Greenfield – Dynamic Planet

5th Place
Emily Fabian – Junkyard Challenge
Taylor Walker, Joe Isgar - Meteorology
Jen Russo, Alex Sheridan – Wright Stuff

Driver Middle School Science Olympiad team members include: Julie Powers, Meghan Greenfield, Taylor Walker, Joe Isgar, Steve Hogan, Dylan Felty, Mike Clark, Geoffrey Golick, Elizabeth Dean, Roxie Novak, Mark Tompkins, Holly Grosholz, Emily Houser, Casey Cabrinha, Jen Russo, Colin Cusick, Mike Abbott, Emily Fabian, Mike Abbott, Sean King, and Alexandra Sheridan.