John Jay Science Olympiad places sixth in New York; district honors team at board meeting

John Jay High School’s Science Olympiad team placed sixth at the New York State Science Olympiad this spring, the highest finish in the program’s history, and the Wappingers Central School District Board of Education formally recognized the students and their advisors at its April 7 meeting.

The district spotlighted the team’s state showing and a series of earlier invitational and regional results that led to the state performance. “We are very, very proud to have with us this evening the John Jay Science Olympiad, who recently placed sixth in the New York State competition, which is the best that they've ever done,” Superintendent Dr. Bonk said during the recognition.

Ian Friedman, one of the team’s advisers, thanked the board and administrators for support and credited broader STEM programs for the team’s development. “We hugely appreciate all the support you've given to us,” Friedman told the board. He noted the team has reached states multiple years and that this year’s sixth-place finish placed John Jay as the top-ranked team north of New York City.

Student leaders summarized the season for the board. Emma Mazada, co‑president of John Jay Science Olympiad, listed season highlights including three full teams for much of the year, participation in more than five invitationals and satellite competitions, and a run of regional and invitational top finishes that culminated in the state result.

District materials and the students’ presentation cited the team’s invitational finishes: first place at South Windsor (A team), a strong showing at a challenging Capital invitational, a first‑place finish at the Mount Academy Invitational, and a first‑place result at regional competition that qualified the A, B and C teams for states. At the state meet the team earned eight medals, including two first‑place event medals. Student medalists named during the board presentation included Haley (chem lab), Anya (disease detectives and forensics), Jacob (dynamic event), Vade/Ved (helicopter and materials events), Charlotte (materials science), Joey (optics and wind power) and Nash (chem lab and forensics).

Adviser Friedman and students also described technical details from events. Friedman described an air‑trajectory build they tested repeatedly, noting competition constraints (two shots, a far shot roughly 6–8 meters and a nearer elevated target) and the fine calibration teams use to place shots accurately.

The recognition concluded with the board and audience applauding the students and coaches. The spotlight was placed in the meeting’s superintendent spotlights and did not include any formal board action beyond the recognition.

The board’s materials list John Jay High School and the Science Olympiad team as the subjects of the recognition.