Dare County Schools is proud to announce the outstanding success of Cape Hatteras Secondary School (CHSS) students and staff at the North Carolina Science Olympiad Regional Tournament held on Feb. 17 at East Carolina University. CHSS teams showcased their exceptional science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) talents, earning them high rankings within their respective divisions.
The teams, led by math teacher and Science Olympiad head coach Jessica Polk and assistant coach and teacher Julianna Gorges, delivered an impressive performance, securing various accolades across STEM-focused events. Polk was also honored with the prestigious Coach of the Year award for her exceptional leadership and guidance. In reflecting on the teams’ accomplishments, Coach Jessica Polk shared her enthusiasm, stating, “This year’s tournament was one of those that will live in my memory bank forever!
There were so many little comeback stories embedded in the day, and the kids pushed through every single challenge that came their way.” CHSS excelled in the competition, with four teams securing top-three placements in the following categories: Air Trajectory, Disease Detectives, Flight, and Wheeled Vehicle. The scores from the competition highlight the students’ hard work and dedication of CHSS’ Science Olympiad coaches.
Division B Competitions and Rankings (competing against 18 other teams):
- Air Trajectory – 2nd Place – Liam, Seaton
- Crimebusters – 6th Place – Landen, Seaton
- Disease Detectives – 3rd Place – Jack, Sofia
- Experimental Design – 6th Place – Liam, Landen, Ellie
- Flight – 3rd Place – Paizley, Daniel
- Fossils – 5th Place – Jack, Sofia
- Reach for the Stars – 6th Place – Camryn, Adair
- Towers – 6th Place – Mitxi, Ella
- Wind Power – 6th Place – Seaton, Adair
- Wheeled Vehicle – 3rd Place – Camryn, Isaiah
Division C Competitions and Rankings (competing against 22 other teams):
- Flight – 4th Place – Grace, Alaina
- Robot Tour – 4th Place – Grace, Taylor
- Wind Power – 5th Place – Silas, Audrey
- Scrambler – 7th Place – Sherlyn, Estrella
- Dare County Schools extends its congratulations to CHSS’ Science Olympiad teams and
- coaches for their outstanding achievements.
- CHSS’ Science Olympiad teams would like to thank the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund
- for purchasing supplies for the competition and for the community for their continued support.
About NC Science Olympiad
North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO) is an NC State program with a mission to attract and retain the pool of K-12 students entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees and careers in North Carolina. Every year NCSO hosts tournaments on university, community college, and public school campuses across the state. These tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of different hands-on, interactive, challenging, and inquiry-based events that are well-balanced between the various disciplines of biology, earth science, environmental science, chemistry, physics, engineering, and technology.
