Another academic activity available to students is Science Olympiad, which held an organizational meeting on Monday, Nov. 18 during seminar in Mr. Walter’s room.

“Science Olympiad is a competition that ranges over all areas of science,” science teacher and sponsor Chris Walters said. “The ways to compete vary from taking tests to building projects.”

Walters said that there were a total of 23 different events students could choose to participate in at the regional competition at Fort Hays State University next February.

“It’s both a team and an individual competition,” Walters said. “Students usually work in groups of two to three in competition and score points as a team. If, as a team, we earn the top four or top five spot at regionals, we qualify for the state competition at Wichita State University.”

Walters said that last year, the Hays High team qualified to go to state but didn’t compete because the competition fell on the same day as prom.

This year, the number of people initially signed up was larger than in years past.

“We’ve got about 11 kids signed up, but can have 15 on a team,” Walters said. “Usually we start out with six or seven, and then I have to go recruit more people.”

Walters expressed his confidence in this year’s competition.

“I think we should be okay,” Walters said. “We lost some strong performers this year, but we also have several strong competitors who have participated in years past and some new faces, so I expect them to step up.”

14nfeyerherm@usd489.com