Emma's Medals

Emma is captain of the Harmony Science Olympiad team. For the past three years, she's dedicated three days a week, including Saturday mornings, to studying and practicing to try to win the State Championship.

To get there, you have to win a Regional competition. Harmony has never won a Regional, so to prepare, the team competed in a number of invitational events.

As you can see, Emma was very successful this year.

Emma's two main events are Triple E and Bridge Building. But depending on the event schedule, she fills in for other team members. This year she added Invasive Species and Fossils.

Triple E - teams are asked about Texas endangered and extinct species, including reasons for their status. Teams are also asked about Texas exotic (non-native) species, including their mode of introduction and their impact on biodiversity.

Bridge Building - teams design and build the lightest bridge with the highest structural efficiency that can span a given opening.

Invasive Species - teams are tested on invasive species in local and national ecosystems.

Fossils - teams demonstrate their knowledge of ancient life by identifying fossils and answering questions about classification, habitat, ecologic relationships and behaviors.

The Invitationals

Cy-Falls High School - Emma placed third in Fossils, but alas missed the award presentation and didn't receive her medal.

Anthony Middle School - Emma placed first in Triple E - the first first-place finish in her school's history! The medal is on the bottom row with the blue ribbon.

Langham Creek High School - Emma again won first place for Triple E and added a third place finish (white ribbon) in Invasive Species. 

Sartartia High School - Emma finished fourth in Triple E (yellow ribbon) and third in Bridge Building (white ribbon).

The team was now ready for the Regional Finals. There are several to choose from around the State. Emma and her fellow captains selected Galveston.

The team added another day of practice each week leading up to the competition. Would it be enough?

Emma had an outstanding day, pacing the team with a first place finish in Triple E (the round medal with the blue ribbon) and second in Bridge Building (the red ribbon).

As the results for the events were announced, Harmony came in first in six events and second in six more. 

All the hard work, the studying, the weekends...

The final announcement - Harmony won Regional!

Now Emma and her team are on to the State Finals!