On Saturday, February 1, the New York State Science Olympiad (NYSSO) Regional Competition for the Southern Tier was hosted at IHS. Despite wintry weather, sixteen teams from schools across the region arrived starting in the early hours to compete in this event.
In the NYSSO competition format, each team consists of fifteen students who compete across twenty-three STEM-focused events. Typically, each student specializes in three to five events per competition. Events are in pairs and range from hands-on build challenges like Helicopter and Air Trajectory to lab-based events such as Chemistry Lab and Forensics, as well as study-focused events like Entomology and Materials Science.
The focus of the event determines both the skills being analyzed and the means of assessment. In study events, for instance, students bring study materials, cheat sheets, and binders to assist them in a cumulative test that determines their performance in the event. The lab events require competitors to demonstrate laboratory skills, involving hands-on experiments, data collection, and analysis. In build events, students bring in pre-constructed builds designed to meet event parameters and goals outlined in the official rule manual. These builds are then tested on-site to determine the day’s top performances.
The regional competition is a crucial part of every team’s season, as a strong performance allows the top two schools to secure a spot in the State competition, a two-day event that brings together teams from across New York State.
Keith Dao, student captain of the two Vestal High School teams, shares, “[The involvement of Cornell students] was great! As someone who has gone to Cornell [Invitational], it was really nice seeing Cornell students supervising, and I had a really good time conversing with them.” The competition was greatly enhanced by the assistance of volunteers from Science Olympiad at Cornell, who provided the students with guidance and insight on excelling in their events. IHS Physics teacher Matthew Fellman, Regional Director of the Southern Tier, shares the outcome that he hopes to see through organizing the competition: “My goal is to increase exposure to Science Olympiad every year so that more students develop an interest in something new.” Claire Park ’25, president of the IHS Science Olympiad club, has witnessed this firsthand through her leadership. “Over the past few years, our membership numbers have doubled, and so has our confidence to represent our school in the most competitive invitationals,” Park shares. “Seeing my teammates find their passion for such a variety of STEM fields through Science Olympiad has inspired me to do the same.”
The impact that the Science Olympiad program has persists beyond high school years. “I have spoken to many students who are now graduating college and are still pursuing scientific work or study, and many of them claim they became interested in astronomy, or epidemiology, or wind turbine design, because of Science Olympiad,” Fellman says. Early exposure to advanced topics gives students a head start in finding their passions and provides them with a clearer trajectory for higher education.
Science Olympiad offers more than just academic benefits; it gives students the opportunity to develop leadership skills, make friends, and build lasting connections with peers that have shared interests. Dao shares that, as a captain of his team, he carries larger responsibilities above simply studying for his events. “I help people with their events and making sure they have the necessary materials. I try to lead by example, but I don’t force people to study. At meetings [we engage in] fun activities to create team spirit and memorable times.” His experience highlights how Science Olympiad is not just about competition, but also about collaboration and a strong team dynamic. “I think forming friendships and meeting new people is a core part of [the] SciOly experience.”
The competition concluded with an awards ceremony just before sunset. Teams gathered in Kulp Auditorium, eagerly awaiting the results of their performances throughout the day. Medals were awarded to the top six highest-scoring student pairs in each of the twenty-three events. Trophies were presented to the top three schools based on their cumulative points across all events.
The final team rankings were as follows:
1st Place: Ithaca High School
2nd Place: Vestal High School
3rd Place: Horseheads High School
Ithaca High School and Vestal High School earned invitations to the State competition at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, taking place on March 21–22.
Overall, the Southern Tier Regional Competition was a well-organized event that provided students with an excellent opportunity to showcase their hard work after several months of preparation. The competition is expected to attract more participants in the coming years, with more schools and students across the region joining the Science Olympiad program. Upon the conclusion of the competition, Fellman expressed his strong support for expanding the Southern Tier Regionals in the future, encouraging schools interested in joining to reach out. “Talk to me! If you have students who are interested, I want to do as much as possible to support their advisors and give advice.”
IHS is crowned as 2025 Southern Tier Regional Champions. Claire Park
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