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Whiting recognizes Science Olympiad team; students demonstrate hovercraft, robot and helicopter projects
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Summary
The School City of Whiting honored its Science Olympiad team for a season that included a regional second place and a top-10 state finish; coach Mr. Long, Principal Jason Borsens and students described events and presented certificates to team members.
The School City of Whiting board recognized the Whiting High School Science Olympiad team and presented certificates to student participants during its regular meeting.
Principal Jason Borsens opened the segment by praising the program and inviting Mr. Long, the team’s coach and a longtime science teacher, to speak about the season and the program’s growth. "This group of students has once again demonstrated incredible dedication, curiosity, academic excellence, and has represented our school with pride this year," Borsens said.
Mr. Long told the board the team numbered about 26 students this year and competed at five invitationals. He said the team placed second at the regional competition held at IUN and finished 10th overall at the state meet. "We compete in study events and build events," Mr. Long said, explaining that some events involve written tests while others require students to design and construct devices.
Students demonstrated three build events for the board. A student presenting the hovercraft explained how the device floats on a cushion of air and how balancing the batteries affects speed and scoring. Joaquin Sanchez, who identified himself during the demonstration, described the Robot Tour event and how teams program a compact robot using a USB-stored command sequence to navigate a maze and move water bottles into gate zones. Natalie Holland, a varsity participant, described the helicopter build event and the challenge of fragile parts and winding rubber-band motors; she said the team typically places in the top 10 and placed second at regionals this year.
The board and administrators then presented certificates to students, reading names including Anna Acosta, Lucky Almanza, Isabella Garcia, Natalie Holland, James Holmes, Faustino Hurtado, Fatima Lopez, Finn Monroe, Camila Ortiz, Ben Blair, Anna Rodriguez, Joaquin Sanchez and others; the board noted several team members were absent. Principal Borsens and speakers thanked Mr. Long, assistant coaches and volunteers for their work supporting the program.
The recognition concluded with students invited to refreshments. The board then returned to regular business.
