Manchester Brings Home 14 Medals from 1st Elementary Science Olympiad

Manchester competed in its first ever Elementary Science Olympiad!

More than a decade ago, a group of Ann Arbor parents wanted to get their kids excited about science. They formed the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) and 5 schools competed. Over the last 13 years, it has grown from 5 schools to 26 schools all from the Ann Arbor area.

The WESO board decided it was time to expand and include other schools in Washtenaw County. As their space at Pioneer High School maxed out with teams, a new site was located at the University of Michigan North Campus Research Complex. Starting 6 months ago, Lynn Miller, Manchester's head coach, began recruiting kids along and coaching staff who volunteered their time and resources for team practices.

All of their work culminated this past Saturday, May 31st, as seven new elementary schools met to compete in different areas of science. These elementary schools included: Estabrook from Ypsilanti, Saline Schools, Dexter, Daycroft Montessori from Ann Arbor, St. Thomas, St. Francis, and Manchester. Grades 2-5 competed within 10 catagories: Circuits, Map Reading, Mystery Architecture, Pasta Bridges, Straw Towers, Aerodynamics, Disease Detectives, Estimania, Pentahlon, and On Target.

Manchester's coaches and team members:

• Lynn Miller- (Aerodynamics) Bodi Foulke, Peter Cocco, Megan Miller, Emma Paxton, Amelia Paxton
• Jill Noble - (Disease Detectives) Sadie White, Emma Taylor
• Eric VanBogelen and Luke March - (Mystery Architecture) Nate Huddleston, Drew Corwin, Aiden Majorprice, Roseanna Waters, Kalli VanBogelen, Cade VanBogelen
• Ruth VanBogelen - (Estimania) Roseanna Waters, Phoenix Waters, Kalli VanBogelen, Drew Corwin, Aiden Majorprice,
• Sara Scheil - (Map Reading) Emma Taylor
• Buzz Nau - (On Target) Nate Huddleston, Sadie White, Phoneix Waters

Manchester brought home 14 medals:

• Aiden Majorprice- 1st place in Mystery Architecture, 3rd place in Estimania
• Drew Corwin - 1st place in Mystery Architecture, 3rd place in Estimania
• Bodi Foulke- 2nd place in Estimania, 3rd place in Aerodynamics
• Peter Cocco- 3rd place in Aerodynamics
• Roseanna Waters- 3rd place in Estimania, 3rd place in Mystery Architecture
• Phoenix Waters - 3rd place in Estimania
• Kalli VanBogelen- 3rd place in Estimania, 3rd place in Mystery Architecture
• Emma Taylor - 3rd place in Map Reading
• Megan Miller- 3rd place in Aerodynamics

Head coach, Lynn Miller stated that she would like to thank everyone including those that helped team members during practice. And that everyone, whether they medaled or didn’t, did a wonderful job representing Manchester. She went on to explain that it wasn’t just about winning or the competition, but that it was about exposing kids to science outside of the classroom. She cited that one parent commented that when her daughter, Emma Taylor’s, class started learning about maps, "Emma told her teacher she already knew about them." Coach Lynn Miller hopes all the kids enjoyed their time learning and gained a sense of accomplishment as well as pride. She invites more students to join next year!!

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by News News