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Montana Science Olympiad state tournament set for April 19 at Montana State; Coaches' Kickoff is Oct. 25

From the MSU News Service

The Montana Science Olympiad State Tournament is set for Friday, April 19, 2024, at Montana State University. Registration is now open for middle and high school teams.

Coaches of new and returning schools are encouraged to participate in the Coaches' Kickoff, an online orientation, from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25. The orientation will include information on the logistics of starting a team, garnering community support, tournament events, coach resources and tips from past coaches. Potential coaches are also invited to learn more about forming a team.

"Our goal is to support and encourage new and returning middle and high schools from across Montana to participate fully in the Montana Science Olympiad," said Suzi Taylor, state director of Montana Science Olympiad. "We want coaches and teams to know they are supported."

The Coaches' Kickoff is free, but registration is required. A recording will be available for coaches who are unable to attend. A registration link for the Coaches' Kickoff is available under the "School Coaches and Teams" button on the MSU Science Math Resource Center website at montana.edu/smrc/mtso.

The Science Olympiad is among the largest STEM competitions in Montana, with more than 1,200 middle and high school students participating in STEM events, including events related to life sciences, chemistry, engineering and more. MSU's Science Math Resource Center, part of the College of Education, Health and Human Development, hosts the annual state tournament.

Schools from across the state register for the Montana Science Olympiad as a team, with pairs or trios of students competing in individual events. Students can earn medals in events, and the school with the highest cumulative score wins the state championship. The state champions are eligible to compete at the national tournament, which will be hosted next spring at Michigan State University.