At the University of Urbana-Champaign, New Trier’s varsity Science Olympiad squad secured first place at the Illinois State Tournament with 84 points. The team edged out Adlai E. Stevenson High School of Lincolnshire by just two points, while the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools came in third.
New Trier’s team excelled at the tournament, earning numerous medals and honors across various scientific disciplines. Freshmen Kate Kang and Sofia Yang earned 3rd place medals, while sophomores Brian Ren, Elan Hao, Vivian Chen, and Justin Lu each secured 1st place medals. Juniors Malachia Noel, Kevin Huang, Steven Zhao, Varun Murali, and Kaci Morris each earned multiple gold or silver medals, with Nicholas Circolone also receiving a bronze. Seniors Pranshu Rao and Tiana Wu both earned 1st place in two events.
Prior to their recent success at the state tournament, New Trier had a strong showing at the regional tournament at Oakton College where they took first place in the varsity category and first and second place in the junior varsity category. With a strong performance at both tournaments, the team is now preparing for the national tournament at Michigan State University on May 25th.
The New Trier Educational Foundation’s James Marran Grants program provides financial support for New Trier’s Science Olympiad program including travel costs for out-of-state competitions. This initiative ensures that all students can participate in Science Olympiad regardless of their family’s financial situation.