A 20-member team of Slidell Junior High School students will travel to the nation’s capital in May to compete in the national Science Olympiad competition.

Led by mathematics teacher Kristen Martin and science teacher Shannon Leger, the group won the state trophy after competing against several teams from throughout the state at Southeastern Louisiana University. Individually, team members won six first-place medals, four second-place medals and one third-place medal.

Martin said more than half of the group of seventh- and eighth-graders are girls. Although girls have not historically been encouraged to pursue the sciences, that trend is rapidly reversing.

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“More and more girls are entering the science and mathematical fields every day,” said Martin. “Our girls do exceptionally well, especially in anatomy. You wouldn’t believe the number of body parts and facts they have in their heads.”

This is only the third year the school has competed. Two previous trips to the state competition resulted in a second-place finishes.

The mission of the Science Olympiad is to promote and improve student interest in science and to improve the quality of science education throughout the country.

The competition tests students in a variety of events, judging their skills in everything from ecology and biology to physics and oceanography.

Testing events are divided into three areas: science concepts and knowledge, science processes and inquiry skills, and science application and technology, the building component of the event.

Martin managed similar teams in St. Bernard Parish. She put together the SJHS team in 2005, and at the time it was strictly an after-school program. At the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, it became an elective, so team members could devote more time to perfecting their projects.

“I’m just here to provide guidance,” said Martin. “The kids do absolutely all of the work, and they are so dedicated.”

The team is made up of 15 SJHS students, as well as five Slidell High School students, who participate each morning before heading off to their own classes.

Preparing for the competition at each level has involved countless hours of study, construction and testing on each project.

Several team members confess to the difficulty of the work, but none appear to have any regrets.

“This has been a phenomenal experience,” said eighth-grader Alyssa Moore. “I really think the knowledge I’ve gained will take me far in life.”

A generous donation from Lockheed-Martin last September helped the team obtain materials and resources for their work.

The group will depart May 28 for the competition in Washington, D.C. Many on the team say they are not terribly nervous about the competition but are excited about the opportunity to compete against students from all over the country.

Team member Chase Boles predicts a positive outcome.

“I think everyone will be swept away by the new Louisiana team,” he said.