Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad Team Advances to NYS Competition

Congratulations to the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad A Team for earning a spot at the New York State Science Olympiad Competition after an outstanding performance at the Eastern Long Island Regional Competition.

Teams from across the region competed on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Hauppauge High School. Port Jefferson was represented by three teams—A, B, and C—among a total of 65 competing teams. The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School A Team placed an impressive 2nd overall, securing advancement to the state level.

The regional competition featured 24 STEM-based events, with medals awarded to the top ten teams in each event. The team’s success reflects months of preparation, collaboration, and dedication across a wide range of scientific disciplines.

The New York State Science Olympiad Competition will take place on March 20–21, 2026, at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY. Only eight teams will represent Eastern Long Island at the state competition. Along with Port Jefferson, qualifying schools include Ward Melville, Half Hollow Hills East, The Stony Brook School, Bayport-Bluepoint, West Babylon, Islip, and Smithtown West.
The Science Olympiad teams are coached by high school science teachers Amanda Perovich and Melissa Garcia. “I was stunned and absolutely impressed with all three of the teams this year,” said Coach Perovich. “Their tremendous success demonstrates the amount of teamwork and preparation each person put into their events to contribute to such a successful team.”