OLM School Wins State Science Olympiad Title – Again!

Our Lady of Mercy School’s Science Olympiad Team, made up of twenty 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, won its sixth Rhode Island Science Olympiad Competition at Rhode Island College on Saturday, April 20.

With 8 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze medals on the state level, OLM placed fourth or higher in 21 out of 23 events. 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. 

OLM head coach and middle school science teacher Michelle Lewandowski, along with several parent and teacher volunteer coaches, helped prepare the students with weekly meetings and study sessions, beginning in October. 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. 

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. 

Members of the team included 8th graders Jake Mueller, Matt Paliotta, Makenna Dacy, Hunter Corbett, Peter Faherty, Michael Cottam, Patrick Peterutti, Dan Legare, Zach Magiera, Isabelle Lucente, Tim O'Brien; 7th graders Sean Meehan, Bella Lanna, Alex Lanna, Teddy Hackett, Christina Liberto; and 6th grader Caitlyn Murphy.

Support team members were Bianca Micolis (8th), Sophia Micolis (7th), and Eric Paliotta (6th). The OLM team will travel to Dayton, Ohio, for the National Science Olympiad competition, on May 18, at Wright State University.