Manchester University’s annual Science Olympiad Invitational expects to draw hundreds of middle and high school students to the North Manchester campus on Saturday, Jan. 20.
Manchester University’s annual Science Olympiad Invitational expects to draw hundreds of middle and high school students to the North Manchester campus.
This Saturday, Jan. 20, 13 high school teams and eight middle school teams will bring about 300 students to the North Manchester, Ind., campus. They will participate in more than 30 events, with activities that include solving forensic cases, codebreaking and constructing devices such as roller coasters and towers.
“This high-energy day is one of my favorite parts of this job,” said Dr. Kathy Davis, MU professor of chemistry and invitational coordinator. She has been a part of the Manchester Science Olympiad Invitational since 2011. 
Science Olympiad encourages students to learn in different ways. It also exposes them to Manchester’s close-knit community where faculty inspire students to develop their curiosity through hands-on experiences in the classroom and the lab.
Dozens of Manchester faculty, students and staff donate their time by running events and assisting visiting students during their day on campus.
Manchester University’s invitational is one of eight invitationals in the state this year. Invitational tournaments are a stepping-stone for regional competitions, where the top teams compete for a spot in the 2024 Science Olympiad State Tournament on March 23 at Purdue Northwest and a potential bid for the National Tournament at Michigan State University on May 24-25.
Science Olympiad is a national organization that has provided premier competition opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) events for more than 30 years. For more information, go to www.soinc.org.
Middle School B Teams
- Harshman Middle School (2 teams)
- Indian Springs Middle School
- Manchester Junior-Senior High School (2 teams)
- Raymond Park Intermediate and Middle School (2 teams)
- Winamac Middle School
High School C Teams
- Columbia City High School
- East Noble High School
- Homestead High School
- Lincolnview High School
- Manchester Junior-Senior High School (2 teams)
- Mount Vernon High School (2 teams)
- North Central High School (2 teams)
- Shortridge High School
- Warren Central High School
- Winamac High School
For the media
Dr. Kathy Davis, professor of chemistry, can be reached at kldavis@manchester.edu.
Manchester University, in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., provides vibrant and transformative student experiences. Learn more at www.manchester.edu/about-manchester.
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