Flint Hill’s Science Olympiad team is a remarkable group of students that engages to STEM-based competitions. Junior Reese Brooks, a key member of the team, briefly shared her journey and insights into the club’s success and aspirations. Reese discovered the club in an unconventional way: “I was taking a test in office hours and heard people talking about it. I thought it sounded interesting, so I joined the next meeting that Friday. They immediately added me to the roster, and I started working on my events.” The team stands out at Flint Hill for its diversity of topics and competitive nature. “It’s one of the only clubs at Flint Hill that is both competitive and has so many different topics of interest that anyone could do it,” Reese explained. “It ranges from building towers and making cars to forensics and fossils. It is every kind of science you can think of.”

This year has marked significant growth for the team, with increased membership and support. Regular meetings every Friday during Office Hours have been essential in preparing for events. Reese expressed hopes for even greater participation next year, with earlier starts on builds and more structured involvement.

However, the team has seen notable successes, including their first trip to the state tournament last year, where they placed 3rd in Air Trajectory and Cybersecurity. At their most recent invitational on January 11th at Fairfax High School, they secured 5th place in Electric Vehicle and Optics, as well as 6th in Air Trajectory. They are now preparing for the regional tournament on February 22nd.

Looking ahead, Reese emphasized the importance of fostering student engagement through activity credits and consistent meetings. “Next year, hopefully there will be even more participation and some early starts to builds,” she said. It seems Flint Hill’s Science Olympiad team exemplifies how passion for science and teamwork can lead to both personal growth and competitive success.