After intense preparation, Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS) Science Olympiad club has finally made it to their state competition. Hosted by the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, students from across the state compete against each other to advance to nationals.
During the competition, PPCHS students claimed numerous medals and trophies, some of them with “first place” engraved on the plaque. This year, the Science Olympiad’s state competition was an immense achievement for PPCHS Jags.
Though Pines Charter may be seen as an underdog in the competition, compared to private and magnet schools (schools that have specialized curriculum in certain subjects, such as science), these students proved to be a force to be reckoned with.
Seniors Dylan Capiro and Chinedu Okpala partnered for the Wind Power event, in which competitors are tasked with creating a device that captures wind power, and scored first place.
Okpala offered advice to those aspiring to place in states. “The most important thing for success in Science Olympiad is how much time you put in,” he said.
“Make sure you read the rules list carefully, especially for building events, and make sure to study deeply into the topics.” Science Olympiad events are very difficult, especially building events, which should be completed before the event and must be fully functional to score high.
Learning doesn’t stop at simply studying for events; many attendees discovered new lessons at the Science Olympiad state. “I learned how important teamwork is. Even if you feel confident going in alone, having a teammate by your side makes everything smoother and more manageable,” said sophomore Eshal Farhatullah.
Partnering with a fellow competitor can make a world of difference, whether it be for extra help, calming nerves, or to just have someone to smile with.
For senior and Science Olympiad Co-President Annabelle Acevedo, she described her last Science Olympiad state competition as being bittersweet. “I have had the opportunity to attend states all four years of high school and have made everlasting memories at each of the competitions.”
Acevedo’s favorite memory of states is the awards ceremony. “The suspense and excitement are unmatched,” she said.
“We get to tour the University of Florida and just be with all of our friends after an entire day of competing. I will say, getting mango ice cream boba definitely makes it in the top three best memories at Science Olympiad.”
As competitors from PPCHS return to Pembroke Pines, they return with smiles and knowledge gained from the state competition. Whether that knowledge be educational or social, Pines Charter’s Science Olympiad club successfully conquered states. Now, onto the next step: nationals.
