Participating in Science Olympiad provides K-12 students with the opportunity to collaborate with one another and explore many different areas of science at a much deeper level than taught in classes, and it helps instill a sense of sportsmanship and friendly competition. NC State students who are alumni of the NC Science Olympiad developed an alumni group as an official NC State student organization in order to provide support for future participants through test writing, volunteering at tournaments, and helping out at local invitationals.
In FY 23-24, the NC State Science Olympiad Alumni organization organized and held the first Division B (middle school) Science Olympiad invitational in North Carolina on January 20, 2024. 25 teams participated from across NC with 375 students, representing Durham, Guilford, Hyde, Mecklenburg, Moore, New Hanover, Orange, Union, and Wake Counties. Leveraging KIETS support for the inaugural tournament, the organization aims to improve STEM education access for all, regardless of economic status and was able to waive the fee for two underserved (Title I) schools, providing them with their first opportunities to participate in an invitational.
Over 200 undergraduate students volunteered on the day of the tournament. The group additionally had 30 test writers encompassing all disciplines in NC State. Many of the volunteers were recruited through scholarship programs, including the Caldwell Fellows and the Goodnight Scholars. The group also recruited volunteers with the help of the National Science Teacher Association at NC State, which promotes opportunities for future teachers. Five Master’s and two PhD students volunteered on the day of the tournament.
Although most of the volunteers were NC State students, approximately 10 volunteers from UNC Chapel Hill, two volunteers from the College of William and Mary, and one volunteer from Wake Technical Community College participated in the event. The coaches of attending teams were primarily middle school science teachers, resulting in 25-30 teachers attending on the day of the tournament. Of particular note, the coach for Mills Park Middle School, Whitney Masterson, completed her bachelor’s degree at NC State and is an alumnus of the Kenan Fellows program. The NC State Alumni members raised support for their invitational from individual donors, the NC State Student Government, NC State Science Olympiad, IBM, NC Esports Academy, Krispy Kreme, Jasmin, and Chipotle Restaurants as well as participant registrations. The NC State Science Olympiad Alumni group has invited KIETS continuing support in FY 2024-25.