Dr. Daniel Cortright led the Bedford High School (BMS) Science Olympiad team to victory at the State Science Olympiad competition in Coventry on March 16th. With this win, BMS secured a spot to represent Connecticut at the national Science Olympiad competition at Michigan State University on May 24th and 25th.
Cortright has been involved with the Science Olympiad program since its inception in 2017, starting as an assistant coach before becoming the head coach in the 2021-2022 season. The program has between 30 and 50 participants each year, and a competitive team cannot have more than 15 students. This year, due to last-minute illness or family commitments, only two teams of 14 students each participated in the state tournament, with a total of 28 students taking part.
The Science Olympiad tournaments consist of 23 events covering a variety of science and engineering topics. Students build devices such as building a timed marble slide, conduct experiments and solve complex challenges, such as building a timed marble slide or deciphering coded messages.
“The events are really challenging,” Cortright said. “It’s hard for sixth-graders to win events, but if they stick with it, students start to see competitive success in seventh and eighth grade.” As they prepare for nationals, the team will look to build on their school’s strong record. BMS has secured the title of Connecticut state champion every year since 2018.
Cortright’s favorite part of working with the Science Olympiad program is watching students progress through high school. “It’s a great feeling to watch a young person realize that persistence can really pay off,” he said.