Some local students of a small school have won big at Science Olympiad.
The middle school team from the Wilmington Academy of Arts and Sciences (WAAS) recently placed second out of 16 middle schools from around the state.
It’s an impressive feat, considering the local private school–aimed at nurturing academically gifted students in sixth through eighth grades–only has an enrollment of 70.
Earlier this year, the WAAS Science Olymiad team beat out 23 other schools to take home the trophy at the regional competition.
Last year, the school placed fifth of 48 schools statewide. Students set a new record in December with the second-place state win.
The winning team, according to WAAS, was from the same school that not only won the state competition earlier this year but advanced to the national competition and placed fourth in the country.
Science Olympiad is comprised of teams of two to three students who compete in more than 20 events, including both building events–where they physically construct bridges, wheeled vehicles and bottle rockets, among other items–and academic bowls designed to test students’ knowledge of anatomy and physiology, fossils, meteorology and food science.
Led by science teacher Lisa Giacomelli, WAAS students are coached by community volunteers and parents.
