OLM Science Olympiad Team Will Head To Nationals Again

Our Lady of Mercy School's Science Olympiad team has done it again – for the sixth time in the past eight years, it has won the Rhode Island Science Olympiad middle school championship. But it's more than that. The OLM team dominated the competition, placing fourth or higher in 21 out of the 23 events. 

The team, made up of 20 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students, will travel to Dayton, Ohio, for the national competition, which begins May 18. With 8 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze medals on the state level, OLM placed fourth or higher in 21 out of 23 events and medaled (placed third or better) in 15 events.

"I am extremely proud of this team and all of their hard work throughout the year in preparation for the state Science Olympiad competition," said Michelle Lewandowski, OLM science teacher and the team's coach. "I am so proud of all they have accomplished and frankly amazed at just how well they did."

She praised the parent coaches and volunteers who spent many hours preparing the students and the OLM community. "Year after year, I am truly grateful for the wonderful support in this community, and extremely proud of what our students have accomplished."

Out of 23 events, which range from building events such as Boomilever and Mission Possible (a Rube Goldberg Device), study events such as Anatomy and Heredity, and Lab events such as Crime Busters and Experimental Design, OLM earned medals in a total of 15 events.

The Gold Medals were earned in Anatomy, Boomilever, Crime Busters, Helicopters, Mousetrap Vehicle, Road Scholar, Rocks and Minerals and Sounds of Music.

Silver medals were for Forestry, Mission Possible and Invasive Species. 

OLM’s four bronze medals were earned in Experimental Design, Heredity, Meteorology and Metric Mastery. 

The team will represent Rhode Island in the middle school division at the National competition for the second straight year and the sixth time in eight years, winning four consecutive titles from 2006-2009.

Members of the team include the following students: 8th graders: Jake Mueller, Matt Paliotta, Makenna Dacey, Hunter Corbett, Peter Faherty, Michael Cottam, Patrick Petteruti, Daniel Legare, Zach Magiera, Isabelle Lucente, Tim O'Brien.  7th graders: Sean Meehan, Bella Lanna, Alex Lanna, Teddy Hackett, Christina Liberto; 6th grader: Caitlyn Murphy. Support team: Bianca Micolis (8th), Sophia Micolis (7th), Eric Paliotta (6th).  The OLM team will travel to Dayton, Ohio for the National Science Olympiad competition, being held on May 18, at Wright State University.

"The Science Olympiad Program is such valuable opportunity, in that it provides students with a chance to not only celebrate their love of science, but also to help each other out, and truly work together on a common goal," Lewandowski said. "It's a wonderful thing and I could not be more proud to be the coach of this great group of kids."

Go OLM!

If you'd like to make a donation to help cover travel expenses, send a check in care of the school – OLM School, 55 Fourth Avenue, East Greenwich – and put "Science Olympiad" in the memo line. In addition, the team is holding a bake sale after all Masses at OLM this weekend (5 p.m. Saturday and 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday).