The Bedford Middle School (BMS) Science Olympiad team has achieved yet another victory at the Science Olympiad state competition in Coventry on March 16. Led by head coach Dr. Daniel Cortright, the team placed first and secured a spot to represent Connecticut at the national Science Olympiad competition at Michigan State University on May 24 and 25.
Dr. Cortright started out as an assistant coach in 2017 and became head coach in the 2021-2022 season. With between 30 and 50 participants every year, the program has operated at this level since its inception. Despite some last-minute illnesses or family commitments, a total of 28 students competed with two teams of 14 in this year’s state tournament.
Science Olympiad tournaments consist of 23 events covering diverse science and engineering topics, including building timed marble roller coasters, conducting experiments, and solving complex challenges like deciphering coded messages. It is no easy feat for sixth graders to win these events, but with persistence and dedication, they can achieve competitive success in seventh and eighth grade.
As the team prepares for nationals, they will build on their school’s strong record of securing the title of Connecticut’s state champ every year since 2018. Dr. Cortright is proud of his students’ accomplishments and looks forward to watching them continue to grow in success during their middle school years. He believes that persistence truly pays off and it is a great feeling to see young people realize that hard work can lead to great achievements.