Student Spotlight on Varun Lingadal

Varun has been a member of the Nashua North Science Olympiad team since his freshman year. He has participated and medaled in Anatomy & Physiology, Towers, Helicopters, Herpetology, and Geomapping. His favorite part of being a Science Olympian is getting to meet other students during the event who are also dedicated to science and always curious and eager to learn more. Varun says that his participation in events relating to biology, such as Anatomy & Physiology and Cell Bio, have only reinforced his motivation to continue pursuing a path in this field. The Nashua North team coach, Samantha Bencivenga, says that Varun, "has been a pillar of the team for several years. He is intelligent and driven and has a scientific interest and ability that is not often seen." Great work, Varun!

Interview Lightning Round:
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
"Hawaii, there are so many activities to enjoy while I would also get the chance to relax and enjoy a tropical paradise. At the same time, it's amazing to see how the geography and climate of Hawaii island change so drastically in the course of a short period."

What is your favorite book?
"The Arm -- Jeff Passan"

Who is your favorite superhero?
"Batman"

What is your favorite snack?
"Cape Cod Chips or Swedish Fish"

What is your dream job?
"Working as a physician, with the chance to directly interact with and help treat patients"

2019 Competition: Through the Eyes of an Alum

On Saturday, March 23, over 300 students from around New Hampshire competed in the statewide Science Olympiad competition. Having competed in the Maine state competition for eight years, I so vividly remember the excitement as an Olympian on the day of the competition. It starts out with the bus ride early in the morning, all of the seats filled your teammates and boxes containing builds ready to be impounded. The rush of finally getting to put all of your hard work to the test, whether that means getting to show off your Wright Stuff plane or Mousetrap Vehicle, or getting to take your Forensics or Anatomy and Physiology exam. The peak excitement comes from sitting through the awards ceremony, waiting for your events to get called, knowing that the weeks of hard work will pay off when you hear your school's name called. The thrill of getting to weave your way through the crowd to receive your medal alongside the partner you worked with all year for this moment. While some of the events may have changed since I competed, it was clear after last weekend that the best parts of the Science Olympiad remain the same and transcend across state lines. Congratulations to all of the 2019 competitors and I wish the best of luck to the teams traveling to the national competition in a few weeks!

--Katherine King

Saint Anselm College, Class of 2021

Student Spotlight on Jade Sahinidis

Jade is a sophomore at Merrimack High School and has been competing in Science Olympiad for the last three years. She's received medals in several events such as Invasive Species, Herpetology, Dynamic Planet, Microbe Mission and WiFi-Lab, where she received a gold medal at the national competition. Jade says that her favorite thing about being a Science Olympian is "being able to compete and apply the knowledge that [she] acquires during the season." She also loves being able to meet new people who share common interests and having the opportunity to travel to different schools. Jade mentioned that Science Olympiad has opened her eyes to the numerous types of sciences and fields of study that are available after high school. Her win at Nationals in 2018 gave her new confidence and drive to see the potential in herself and how she could use it to help others who want to achieve the same honor. Jade's coach Tyler Golemo says that Jade is a wonderful example of women in STEM and proves that a small state program can win big. Great work, Jade!

Interview Lightning Round:
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
"I love to travel and I've been all over, but somewhere I've been dying to go is Singapore"

Who is your favorite superhero?
"Iron Man"

What is your favorite color?
"Blue"

What is your favorite snack?
"Chex Mix"

What is your favorite animal?
"Sharks"

Student Spotlight on Meghan Donohue

Meghan is a sophomore at Saint Anselm College and is an alumnus of the Science Olympiad program. She competed throughout her high school career in events like Write it Do it, Astronomy, Dynamic Planet, and Wright Stuff. Meghan's favorite thing about being an Olympian was the relationships that she built with her teammates and being able to see how her high school was different from other competing high schools. She recalls a funny time when she and her partner almost ended up in the wrong space for an event: "I remember running all over the campus of Framingham State University at the state meet looking for the classroom for a biology event with my partner. We ended up being in the wrong classroom and almost began taking the wrong test! In the moment it was stressful, but looking back on the memory it was very funny to have almost taken the wrong exam without knowing it!" Meghan says that Science Olympiad helped her become aware of all the different opportunities that there are in the STEM field and helped her realize that although she may not have a scientific brain, she would like to have a job that allows her to expand her knowledge every day and work with others.

Interview Lightning Round:
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
"Australia"

What is your favorite animal?
"Giraffe"

What is your dream job?
"Management Consultant"

What is your favorite book?
"The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald"

If you could meet anyone who has ever lived, who would it be?
"Michelle Obama"

Student Spotlight on Colin Reagan

Colin is a freshman and had competed in Science Olympiad for the duration of his time at Walpole Middle School. His fellow team members voted Colin to be recognized by our blog for his outstanding achievements and his dedication to the program. He has participated in events such as Circuit Lab and Boomilever and has received several medals for his work in Dynamic Planet, Solar System, and Fast Facts. Colin's favorite part about being a Science Olympian is getting to learn about lots of science, a fact which has helped him determine that he wants to pursue a scientific career. Colin has gotten to compete in back to back years at the national competition where he made many memories, his favorite being the time that he got to play pool with his teammates in Colorado. Colin's coach, Kim Lewis, says that "he is someone who cares a lot about what we do and dedicates himself to Science Olympiad." Great work, Colin!

Interview Lightning Round:
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
"Canada"

What is your favorite animal?
"My cat"

What is your dream job?
"Nuclear Engineer"

What is your favorite TV show/movie?
"Futurama"

What is your favorite book? 
"Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" 

Student Spotlight on Aditi Jogdand

Aditi Jogdand is a senior at Lebanon High School and has been a competitor in Science Olympiad all throughout high school. She was nominated by her coach John Tietjen to be featured in our Student Spotlight Blog because he felt that “she demonstrates the qualities that [their] school’s program strives for: teamwork, intellectual curiosity, practicing and understanding science well, and a sense of humor.” Aditi has competed in events like ChemLab, Thermodynamics, Herpetology, Ecology, Invasive Species, and Protein Building. She has even received a bronze medal for her efforts in Anatomy and Physiology during the 2015 competition. Aditi says that being a part of science olympiad has broadened her horizons, taught her about teamwork, and has given her lasting friendships. When asked about how the program has influenced her goals for the future, Aditi said that her goal is to become a doctor and “the lessons Science Olympiad has taught [her], especially teamwork, will come in handy in [her] future career goals.” Aditi also said that she would like to mention her “sincere gratitude towards her coach, Mr. John Tietjen, for all of his guidance and support throughout the years.”

Interview Lightning Round:

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

“I have always wanted to go to Paris or anywhere in Italy”

What is your favorite animal? 

“Panda”

What is your favorite TV show/movie?

“Criminal Minds or The Office”

What is your favorite color? 

“Purple”

What is your favorite book?

“The Harry Potter series is probably my favorite”

If you could meet anyone who has ever lived, who would it be?

“I would want to me Dr. Anandi Joshi, who was the first female doctor in India. Facing immense obstacles and societal pressures, she traveled across the globe to pursue her passions and study in the U.S.”

Greetings!

As we strive to build the New Hampshire Science Olympiad community beyond our one day event, we would like to introduce you to individuals who make this event possible - from competitors to coaches and alumni.  We are starting a blog to show you how much you mean to us.  Stay tuned in the new year for some great updates!




Nicole & Bill