Coming up this Saturday, April 1, Fossil Ridge High School’s Science Olympiad will be competing at the State Tournament in Colorado Springs. 

The Northern Colorado Regional Tournament took place March 4, producing two winning teams from Fossil, one in first and the other in third, both of which will be competing soon. 

For Science Olympiad, there are two passionate teachers. Melissa Vigil, who has been the teacher sponsor since Science Olympiad has existed at Fossil, a total of thirteen years, and Janet McGowen who is on her fourth year of being a sponsor. 

The students of the club prove what it takes to make a determined and winning club. “I see them taking a lot more leadership because they’re really pulling themselves together, learning the material,” McGowen explains. 

Science Olympiad is unique in that their practices are not always a full team together, but instead each member needs to study and meet in their own time. 

“It’s not one team where everybody shows up and practices all at the same time, you have to have experts in the field teaching twenty different events, meeting twenty different times,” says McGowen. 

This club creates a special experience for all. “They’re the best kids I get to work with, they’re what keep me doing it,” says Vigil.

Several talented seniors are graduating once the spring semester comes to a close, feeling nostalgic about all the growth that has been made. Sierra Warnygora, a soon-to-be graduating senior, talks about her time throughout Science Olympiad.

“I have participated in Science Olympiad since sixth grade. I spend three or more days and nights a week at Science Olympiad build nights and these are some of my most fond memories.” 

Warnygora will be competing in three total events for the State Tournament: Bridges, Flight, and Fermi. Bridges is an event to create a bridge holding the most amount of weight with the lightest bridge, Flight has to do with a rubber band-powered airplane, and the final is Fermi, which means the team has to answer as many estimation questions as possible in sixty minutes. 

There are several other events that cover several in-depth topics of science such as Earth and Space Science, Technology and Engineering, and others. Yet the legacy of continuing to hold the State Science Olympiad Competition for several years looms over the members of the club. 

“My biggest worry is not continuing the legacy of winning,” Warnygora says. 

Yet twists and challenges come with each competition, with no idea of the other people also in the room or what will be on a test. A fellow senior, Rebbeca Rehm, says, “Competition can always go different than expected.” 

Most students can come to the agreement that the most challenging aspect of the competition is the unknown portions of the test. “It’s hard to know what will be on the test day of,” Rehm explains. 

Despite the hardship, this does not create hesitation for the members of Fossil but instead fuels their determination to continue working and create inspiring memories along the way. 

Throughout her years in Science Olympiad, Bridget McGowen has explored and deepened her interest in the science field. “I learned a lot about how much more there is to science than what you learn at school,” McGowen explains. 

Science topics can be covered in just a week for Science Olympiad, helping their members become well-versed in their scientific knowledge, which will pay off during events. McGowen says, “[I hope to get] first in at least one of them.” 

The feeling when winning makes all the hours spent studying worth it. The relationships gained, the experiences made, “Hearing you and your partner’s names called for an award is such a great feeling,” Madison Bair says. 

Although there are several positive payoffs, one main worry is remembering to enjoy and appreciate the time with teammates. Bair claims, “My main concern is forgetting to have fun and take it easy, since Science Olympiad can be super competitive at times.”