Skip to main content
NC Science Olympiad

Enter the 2026 State Tournament Theme Contest

October 27, 2025
  • Send us your ideas for the 2026 NC Science Olympiad State Tournament Theme Contest today for a chance to work with the NCSO team to create a shirt design for the 2026 State Tournament.
  • Entries must be received by November 10, 2025 at 11:59pm (EST), via email to vabass@ncsu.edu. Please include your name, school, telephone number and email address. Winners will be announced on or December 5, 2025.
  • Entries must include a slogan or tagline. Artwork is not required. The winner will work directly with NCSO staff to create a design that adheres to the NCSO branding guidelines. The winner will also have their theme featured across NCSO 2026 merchandise and materials. 

How Winners Are Selected:

  • The NCSO staff will review all submissions and select the top 8 entries based on creativity, originality, and fit with the NCSO mission.
  • The top 8 themes will face off in a bracket-style vote on NCSO’s Instagram Stories, where followers will vote to advance their favorites each round. Voting will begin on November 17th.
    • Round 1: November 17
    • Round 2: November 24
    • Round 3: December 1
  • The winning theme will be chosen based on the final round of Instagram voting,  so be sure to follow @ncscienceolympiad and vote for your favorite! Winners will be announced on December 5, 2025. 

Rules and Helpful Hints:

  • NC Science Olympiad is a K-12 STEM competition across North Carolina. The theme you create should fit well within that context.
  • Your theme should be short, catchy, and fun, while fitting the NCSO spirit of science, creativity, and teamwork. Last year’s theme was “In my Science Olympiad Era”, Other recent themes include “90s Throwback”, “Science Things”  ,”Start Your Engines.”
  • Keep in mind the NCSO color scheme and think of something that would fit well within that palette, be family friendly and appeal to students in elementary, middle and high school.