New Trier Science Olympiad Team Wins First Place at Illinois State Championship

New Trier Science Olympiad team made history by winning first place at the Illinois State Tournament. The varsity squad finished with a total of 84 points, beating Adlai E. Stevenson High School of Lincolnshire by just two points. The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools came in third place.

Illinois Science Olympiad tournaments feature a variety of events that test students’ scientific knowledge and skills. At the state championship, New Trier’s team earned numerous medals and honors across different scientific disciplines, marking their first overall win since 2018.

The New Trier team was recognized for their outstanding performances in various categories at the tournament. Freshmen Kate Kang and Sofia Yang earned 3rd place medals, while sophomores Brian Ren, Elan Hao, Vivian Chen, and Justin Lu each secured 1st place medals. Juniors Malachia Noel, Kevin Huang, Steven Zhao, Varun Murali, and Kaci Morris each earned multiple gold or silver medals, with Nicholas Circolone also receiving a bronze. Seniors Pranshu Rao and Tiana Wu both earned 1st place in two events each.

Prior to their recent success at the state tournament, New Trier excelled at the regional tournament at Oakton College where they took first place in the varsity category and first and second place in the junior varsity category. With a strong showing at both tournaments, the team is now preparing for the national tournament at Michigan State University on May 25th.

Financial support for New Trier’s Science Olympiad program is provided through the New Trier Educational Foundation’s James Marran Grants program which ensures that all students can participate in Science Olympiad regardless of their family’s financial situation.