Henderson State University

The Science Olympics consisted of 6 events, 2 each in biology, robotics, and physics. The events were a trebuchet build (teams launched red new potatoes and submitted design drawings to earn points), an on-the-spot bridge build using 75 toothpicks and 40 1⁄2” cubes of new potatoes (teams had to support mass and span a 6” gap with their bridge; the winning team held 1.9 kg), a replicating DNA model, an on-the-spot research and presentation event, a programming event using mbots to navigate their way through a maze autonomously, and an on-the-spot programming event using mbots to run a race. With our funding, we were able to purchase supplies and awards for the 7 regional high school teams who participated. The SPS chapter also received funding from the HSU university Student Leadership Center to cover the cost of lunch and funding from the Ross Foundation to purchase mbots for each team who participated. The mbots were then given to the schools of each team that participated.