With their outstanding performances at a recent regional competition, students from Paisley IB Magnet School qualified for the state Science Olympiad tournament on April 8 at North Carolina State University.
The junior varsity team from Paisley earned a first-place trophy in the regional Science Olympiad tournament held at UNC-Greensboro in late February. The varsity team placed second at the regional level and also qualified for the state tournament. In addition, four members of Paisley’s C Division (high school) team won first-place medals in their individual events and also are invited to compete in the State Tournament: Julio Alvarado, Tyler Carter, Jacob Hoyle and Phillip Smith.
The Science Olympiad website defines the organization as an international nonprofit association devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. North Carolina is divided into 12 regions, each of which sponsors a tournament during the winter months. The Greensboro tournament invitation is extended to all students from eleven counties in north central North Carolina.
The 17 members of Paisley's varsity team (grades 7 and 8) were awarded medals in 22 out of 26 events in the tournament and the 18 junior varsity team members (grade six) earned first place finishes in 14 of the 26 events. In just its second year of competing, the C division team medalled in six events.
Members of Paisley's C Division team (9th and 10th graders at Paisley) are: Julio Alvarado, Mecaria Baker, Tyler Carter, Matt Houghtaling, Jacob Hoyle, David Manley, Jonathan McCay, Theo Mitiku, Ken Pettigrew, Sam Robinson, Eden Smemoe, Phillip Smith and Ryan Thamm.
Members of Paisley's varsity team are: Arthur Balwah, Matthew Barger, Kayla Beckerdite, Taylor Cook, Nicole Crawley, Chris Desmond, Anne Gladstone, Chase Holleman, Jeanette Juran, Mary Jo Juran, Matthew Kellum, Matt Mixon, Nicole Nyswonger, Garrett Ring, Camille-Macie Rumph, Andrew Walker and Dylan White.
Members of Paisley's junior varsity team in the competition were: Kayla Anderson, Nicole Broadway, Tyler Canada, Samantha Childress, Jessica Fields, Jacob Greenburg, Anna Hall, Sean Henderson, Aaron Hunter, Daniel Laventure, Gaby Mena, Jeremy Muday, Devonte Rice, Emily Rivers, Zach Thamm, Sofia Thomasson, Britni Wallace and Paige Woods.
Paisley's teams are coached by teachers Sue Whiteside, Christine Scott, and Vance Parker, as well as parent coaches Felicia Hoyle, Robin Maxwell, Gloria Muday, Cindy Hall and Beth Juran.
