2024 Impact Report

Dear Science Olympiad Family,

This year holds special significance for NC Science Olympiad as we celebrate our 50th anniversary! Can you believe our first-ever tournament was held on November 23, 1974, at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, North Carolina? And the same tournament is still going strong today, led by one of the original NC Science Olympiad leaders, the incredible Dr. Rooney Coffman.

I’m overjoyed to share our first-ever NCSO Impact Report with you! Our team has compiled what we think are the Top 5 biggest achievements of this remarkable year.

Over the past year, we’ve achieved so much together:

• Launched two new elementary regional tournaments
• Increased community engagement
• Grown our registration numbers
• Provided rural and underserved teams with supplies and scholarships
• Expanded our event supplies and elementary regional tournaments

None of this would be possible without you – the countless people behind the scenes who help run our tournaments, prep materials, and deliver supplies. Thank you for being part of this vibrant community. Your continued partnership, support, and engagement have helped us build a lasting legacy of STEM education leadership in North Carolina.

Here’s to 50 more years of inspiring the next generation of scientists and innovators!

New NCSO Elementary Tournaments

We are thrilled to announce the successful launch of two new Division A (elementary) tournaments this year as part of our ongoing commitment to expand access to the Science Olympiad program to rural and underserved areas. 

The Sandhills Tournament was held at Alpha Academy in Fayetteville, led by our Regional Director Chonita Jones. Additionally, the Elizabeth City Division A Regional Tournament took place at the College of the Albemarle – Elizabeth City, under the leadership of Regional Director Lisa Meads. These tournaments offered the opportunity for young learners to engage in competitive and enriching mathematical and scientific activities.

We are proud of the hard work and dedication displayed by our Regional Directors, tournament organizers, and participating students. Their commitment to excellence in STEM education is truly inspiring. We look forward to the continued growth and expansion of our tournament program, providing more chances for elementary students to thrive and excel in the fields of mathematics and science.

Recap of Our Exciting STEM Outreach Events

Our team has been working hard to bring hands-on learning experiences to communities across the region, and we’re thrilled to highlight our key partnerships and activities. In July of 2023, we teamed up with our longtime sponsor Wolfspeed and the Daniels Center in Raleigh to host a fun-filled day of STEM learning for the local community. Attendees had the opportunity to explore interactive events, participate in engaging builds, and discover the wonders of science. A very special shoutout to the DaVinic’s Dragons team for volunteering to help us run the event.

Building on that momentum, in September, we joined forces with the renowned Marbles Kids Museum to kick off our Division A tournament season. This collaboration provided our triangle-area participants with the chance to practice and showcase their Science Olympiad skills before competition.

Lastly, we’re thrilled to share that we recently joined forces with NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC to bring STEM education to the local community. Through interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities, we were able to teach attendees about STEM opportunities that drive the world of motorsports.

As we look ahead, we are excited to continue expanding our STEM outreach efforts and finding new ways to engage and inspire communities across the region. Stay tuned for more updates on our upcoming initiatives!

Bouncing Back from Pandemic Challenges

In 2019, and prior to the Covid pandemic, our program was thriving with over 900 teams participating in our competitions. However, the unexpected circumstances of 2020 brought a significant drop in participation as schools and students faced unprecedented challenges. Since then, we have been steadily rebuilding and are encouraged by the progress we’ve made. In 2022, when we were able to return to in-person competitions, our team registrations totaled 548.

In 2023, we saw a 15% increase in registrations, bringing our total to 655 teams. And now, in 2024, we are excited to report a 16% increase, reaching 755 total teams participating in our program. While we are not yet fully restored to our pre-pandemic levels, we are confident that we are on the right track. Our goal is to continue this upward trend and eventually surpass our 2019 participation numbers, ensuring that the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers in North Carolina have the opportunity to showcase their talents and passion for STEM. We are grateful for the unwavering support of our volunteers, sponsors, and the broader community as we navigate this recovery process. Together, we are building a brighter future for science education in our state.

Supporting Rural STEM Education with Scholarships and Supplies

Thanks to the generous support of the Backyard Foundation, NCSO was able to provide scholarships that covered the costs of the Coaches Conference and regional tournament registration for five deserving rural teams. This invaluable training and competition experience will empower these coaches and students to further develop their STEM skills and passion.

In addition to the registration scholarships, ten rural teams also received custom kits filled with essential Science Olympiad event supplies. These kits ensure that all students, regardless of their school’s resources, have access to the materials needed to excel in their chosen events.

Supporting rural STEM education is a passion of ours, and we are grateful to the Backyard Foundation for their commitment to making quality science and engineering programs accessible to students in underserved communities. Together, we are working to level the playing field and inspire the next generation of innovators.

Expanded Event Materials Offerings for Coaches

This tournament season we were successfully able to increase the number of event related materials for sale to coaches and teams. NCSO Program Coordinator, Jayne Carlisle worked tirelessly to produce specialized event materials to aid teams in preparing for competition. New event supplies sold this year included specialized lab materials, optics boxes, lasers, fossil kits and more. Event supplies are available for sale at our annual Coaches Conference held every October. In addition, event supplies can be purchased online. We’re committed to providing you with the resources you need to help your teams succeed. 

A very special thank you to our 2024 Sponsors!

Our work would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Sponsorship funds are vital to the success of our competitive events, allowing us to provide essential educational supplies such as specimens, engineering devices, scales, and much more for our participants.

Beyond just the materials, sponsorship support also covers the significant costs associated with hosting over 30 regional tournaments across the state, including event space rental fees, medals, trophies, staff travel, and custodial services. With more than 11,000 participants statewide, we rely on the generosity of our corporate and foundation supporters to keep our program accessible and available in every region.

Our sponsors makes a tangible difference in the lives of the young people we serve. Thanks to you, we are able to foster their passion for STEM education and provide them with transformative learning experiences.