The Science of Success: Payton’s Science Olympiad Glory

By Rhea Makkuni~ Walter Payton’s Science Olympiad teams triumphed at the Chicago Public Schools Regionals. They overcame challenges to qualify for state and are preparing rigorously. Good luck to them!

Paw Print Staff

March 21, 2024

2–3 minutes

#math, Features, News, Payton W, science, science Olympiad, Sports

By Rhea Makkuni

Innovate, Compete, and Win. This past weekend, Walter Payton’s junior varsity and varsity Science Olympiad teams accomplished just that. During the Science Olympiad Chicago Public Schools Regionals (held at Lane Tech College Preparatory High School), the varsity team qualified for the state tournament by finishing third, and the junior varsity team finished first out of all JV teams in attendance.

The Payton Science Olympiad Varsity Team

The Science Olympiad is an academic competition that challenges students to apply their knowledge of scientific concepts and problem-solving skills. Students can compete in various categories, including biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, and engineering.

To prepare for the Science Olympiad, Payton teams underwent rigorous training and practice sessions throughout the year to refine their skills and excel in their chosen categories. The teams also participated in various workshops and seminars to enhance their knowledge and stay updated with the latest advancements in their respective fields.

Shabao Wang in a Technology and Engineering Workshop

Despite the challenging and competitive environment, both teams persevered and achieved remarkable results, displaying exceptional performance and creativity through intense rounds of testing.

Their victory reflected their immense talent and potential, as well as brought the teams a great deal of pride and joy. William Kim ‘25, a member of the junior varsity team, said, “I felt good. It felt awesome. It was especially nice because I placed well in all my events.”

His sentiments were echoed by the Varsity Captain Leader, William Xu, Class of 2024. “We really weren’t sure about making it to the next round as it was really close, but we did it.”

Xu even highlighted some additional barriers and challenges that they overcame, further showing their commitment to the Science Olympiad. “CPS cut [Science Olympiad] funding for a lot of schools. There was a high chance that we were not gonna make it to state this year, but the fact that we were able to budget and do well in our events is simply amazing.”

The Payton Science Olympiad Team has two months to prepare until the state competition. If you see any of these students in the hall or class, please wish them luck and motivate them to bring home the gold and the glory for our school.