On Thursday, April 3, RCS hosted its first ever Science Olympiad and Robotics Award Night! The evening was dedicated to celebrating the achievements of our talented students in STEM. From LEGO robotics to advanced engineering challenges, the event honored both team and individual accomplishments from a year full of learning, innovation, and collaboration.
Celebrating Innovation In Robotics
The evening began with an introduction from the Ravena Innovation Station and recognition of our youngest engineers who participated in the FIRST® LEGO League Challenge, as well as our older students in the FIRST® Tech Challenge.
FIRST® LEGO League Challenge introduces elementary and middle school students to foundational STEM concepts through fun and engaging team competitions. This year, RCS was proudly represented by Team SOS, The Homeschool Squad, and The Software Seacows. At the Championship event in February, Team SOS earned second place overall and received the Project Innovation Award, earning them an invitation to an upcoming invitational tournament this spring.
For students in grades 7–12, the FIRST® Tech Challenge offers a more advanced robotics experience, where teams design, build, and program robots to compete head-to-head with other teams. Our local team, the Ravena Rattlesnakes, navigated a challenging season and walked away with a few match wins and competition awards!
Honoring Science Olympiad Achievements
The event also spotlighted our Science Olympiad teams at both the Middle School and High School levels.
Advisor Jennifer Fisk-Jaskolka announced the students who participated in the Middle School Science Olympiad, commending their dedication and achievements. The team capped off a terrific season with an impressive 3rd-place finish at the regional competition, with several students earning individual medals in their events. These young scholars not only excel in science competitions but also balance Honors and accelerated classes and extracurricular activities, and maintain High Honor Roll status.
High School Science Olympiad co-advisors Cassie Owens and Erin Roberts presented awards to students in grades 9–12. At Regionals on February 1, the high school team competed against 19 schools and secured 1st place in the Small School Division and took home 8th overall. Science Olympiad competitions test knowledge and skills across a wide range of disciplines, including genetics, chemistry, physics, geology, and engineering. With a strong emphasis on hands-on, team-based challenges, the program fosters collaboration and creative thinking skills that are essential in today’s scientific landscape.
Throughout the evening, it was clear there is a bright future of STEM at RCS! The ceremony concluded with a celebratory slideshow featuring all of this year’s participating students. View the slideshow here.
Students in grades 7–12, including homeschoolers and students from nearby districts without a robotics program, are eligible to join the FIRST® Tech Challenge. Those interested should reach out to the Innovation Station. This spring and summer, interested students will take part in outreach events and skill-building sessions to prepare for the upcoming season, which would include learning coding, CAD, and robotics fundamentals.