On February 8th, 2025, Mentor High School’s halls were graced with the clinking of jubilant medals and thunder of rushed footsteps as our Science Olympiad team brought schools across Ohio together for the 25th iteration of their annual Science Olympiad invitational.
Science Olympiad is a nationally competitive extracurricular where teams across the country sacrifice their Saturdays (and souls) in the spirit of science. Students have the opportunity to study a handful of 23 different events, spanning from microbiology to chemistry to engineering, to test their knowledge for tournament glory. Tournaments are hosted from December to April, beginning with preliminary invitationals that help prepare students for the State-qualifying Regional tournament in March. Invitationals—one of which is organized annually here at Mentor High School—are graciously hosted by colleges and high schools across the country as community efforts by coaches, parent volunteers, and students, provide teams with additional competition opportunities.
Mentor’s Science Olympiad team, boasting over thirty students in grades 10 through 12, worked rigorously to bring the annual Mentor Invitational to fruition. Students, advised by Mrs. Pugh, co-advised by Mrs. Polin, and led by captains Kaitlyn Morris and Emily Girard, began immediate efforts on the Thursday and Friday before the tournament, preparing classrooms, testing packets, and organizing award items. Putting the art in STEAM, the team worked on posters celebrating their 25th-year milestone, which decked MHS halls during the tournament.
The team had a long day on Saturday’s tournament, arriving at MHS at the sun’s rising and departing well after its setting. Mentor’s students, including numerous NHS volunteers, were dispersed throughout the day—some assisted in running events, timing builds, and proctoring tests, while others worked diligently towards grading and scoring. While Mentor’s High School team did not compete at their own tournament, Memorial and Shore Middle Schools competed in Division B, bringing home several top-eight finishes. Accounting for both middle and high school teams, Mentor High became host to around 73 teams and over a thousand students from Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
Currently in their 2024-25 season, Mentor’s Science Olympiad team has competed in six invitational tournaments, bringing in several awards and accolades. The team is currently preparing for their final invitational of the season at Ohio University on March 1st and the Regional Tournament on March 8th.
As Mentor’s Science Olympiad Invitational marks its 25th year, the event continues to inspire curiosity, collaboration, and a passion for STEM among students. With teams showcasing their knowledge and problem-solving skills, the competition remains a testament to the dedication of educators, parents, and students who volunteered their time to make the invitational possible. The team will be hosting its 26th annual invitational next February.
