News Release
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Laurie E. Bick-Jensen
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2016 Delaware Science Olympiad Elementary State Tournament Held at Wilmington University
"One of the best organized Olympiads" for 250 student participants and a total of 500 attendees.
On, Saturday, April 16, Wilmington University College of Arts and Sciences hosted the 2016 Delaware Science Olympiad Elementary State Tournament in the Doberstein Admissions Center (DAC) auditorium and Pratt Student Center on the New Castle campus.
Competing students were allowed to use notes and calculators. However, no laptops or smart phones were allowed. The College of Arts and Sciences was approached in the Fall with the opportunity of revitalizing and hosting the 2016 competition. Nearly 10 years passed since the last Science Olympiad. University science chair Milton Muldrow worked with the external Elementary Science Olympiad organizers and Student Affairs provided over 200 lunches for the kids. External Affairs provided a donation that enabled the attendance of some of the participating schools.
“Several organizers, parents and volunteers commented this was one of the most organized Olympiads they have ever attended,” said Doreen Turnbo, Dean of the Wilmington University College of Arts and Sciences. “They commented on the spacious rooms, new facilities, good food and organization of the event. I believe they were referring to the warm 'WilmU touch.'”
Twenty-two schools in the Christina and Red Clay school districts participated in 10 events, which included applied learning in the fields of astronomy, circuitry, fossils, and more.
“The highlight was seeing our youths putting their energy into something other than athletics,” said Belinda Rhinehart, coach and teacher for the Keene Elementary Science Olympiad Academic Team. “I labeled it 'Training Your Brain.' To see how excited the kids were to be a part of an event focused on academic accomplishment was refreshing. The kids really did all the work, I just coached. They were responsible for studying, creating and research and were rewarded for their efforts.”
"Ironically, the principal of the school that came in first place overall was a Wilmington University graduate," Turnbo added. She was impressed with how far the University had come since her time here," said Turnbo.
The purpose of the Delaware Science Olympiad is to improve awareness of the unique properties and interactions of electricity, magnetism and semiconductor materials as they contribute to our daily lives and to raise awareness of electrical safety.
For event rules and more information regarding the Science Olympiad, contact a state director at https://www.soinc.org/contact.
About Wilmington University
Wilmington University is a private, nonprofit institution committed to providing flexible, career-oriented, traditional and online associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. Ranked as the third fastest growing doctoral institution in America 2003 – 2013 by The Almanac of The Chronicle of Higher Education, affordable tuition, academic excellence and individualized attention are hallmarks of the University that enable greater student success in their chosen careers. For more information, contact Wilmington University at 302-356-INFO (4636), via email at infocenter@wilmu.edu, or visit our website: www.wilmu.edu.
