IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2-2-06 CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

SILVER CITY—Western New Mexico University will host the 15^th annual Southwest Regional Science Olympiad on Saturday, Feb. 4. Some 400 middle school and high school students will compete in the Olympiad in hopes of qualifying to participate in the New Mexico State Science Olympiad held in Socorro, N.M.

New Mexico middle schools participating in the Olympiad are C.C. Snell, Cottonwood Valley Charter School, Deming, Hofacket, La Plata, Magdalena, Saraccino, T or C, and Vista Middle School. High Schools participating are Cliff, Deming, Gadsden, Hatch, Hot Springs, Magdalena, Silver, and Socorro.

“We are delighted to host this event,” said WNMU President John E. Counts. “The Science Olympiad is exciting and beneficial for everyone who participates. A great deal of hard work is involved in preparing for this challenging event and, regardless of the outcome, all of the students are winners, because they have chosen to strive for and excel in the sciences.”

The Science Olympiad begins with registration at the Castorena Administration Building at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday followed by a general assembly at the Global Resource Center Auditorium at 8:30 a.m. The competition begins at 9 a.m. in locations throughout campus including Harlan Hall, Brancheau P.E. Complex, Parotti, Global Resource Center, Phelps Dodge, and Old James Stadium. Awards will be presented to individuals, teams, and coaches at 3:30 p.m. in the Global Resource Center.

“We have experienced very good participation from schools in the region. I am pleased to see lots of interest in science and math,” said WNMU Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Natural Sciences Department Kenneth Ladner. “This is a real team effort from the WNMU Foundation awarding several WNMU scholarships for many of the seniors on the winning teams to the Office of the President providing the lunches for all the participants, trophies, and the team medals. In addition, the Science Olympiad would not be possible without the support of the WNMU faculty and staff, and community members who supervise the activities and grade results.”

Students will compete in 30 categories: Astronomy, Can’t Judge Powder, Chemistry Lab, Circuit Lab, Compute This, Designer Genes, Disease Detective, Don’t Bug Me, Dynamic Planet, Ecology, Food Science, Forensics, Health Science, Heredity, Meteorology, Physics Lab, Practical Problem Solving, Remote Sensing, Road Scholar, Rocks and Minerals, Science of Fitness, Solar System, Water Quality, and Write It Do It. The public is invited to attend the events in the Brancheau PE Complex Room 251 and the south side of Old James Stadium from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those events include competition in Balloon Race, Bottle Rocket, Bridge Building, Robot Rambler, Sounds of Music, Tower Building, Wheeled Vehicle, and Wright Stuff.

For more information, contact Ladner at 538-6227.

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