Milford High School

For most students, homework is more than enough science for the day. But for the 16 members of Milford’s Science Olympiad team, after-school hours are spent building, experimenting, and competing in some of the most challenging STEM events in the state. Their hard work paid off at the Regional Science Olympiad Tournament at Xavier University, where they secured a third-place team finish and earned a spot at the Ohio State Tournament in April.

The competition, which features 23 different events ranging from Wind Power to Crime Busters and Entomology, challenges students to apply their scientific knowledge in lab tests, problem-solving exercises, and engineering builds.

Science Olympiad is an after-school club for students who love science and enjoy hands-on learning. The team competes in a wide variety of categories, testing not only their scientific knowledge but also their ability to solve problems under pressure, work as a team, and build functional designs that meet strict guidelines.

Milford Science Olympiad advisor and Milford Junior High science teacher Rachelle Rapp has been leading the program for a decade. Each year, students take on new challenges as event categories change, requiring them to learn fresh material and refine their engineering skills.

"One of the hardest things for them to learn is that science doesn’t always work the first time," Rapp said. "They tweak their designs, make small adjustments, and try again. It’s really amazing to see their growth."

One of this year’s most challenging build events was a rubber band-powered helicopter, a category that seventh-grader Ethan W. and his teammate worked tirelessly to perfect. After weeks of testing, modifying, and improving their design, disaster struck at regionals when their helicopter broke just before testing. It was a frustrating moment after so many hours of preparation, but it did not crush their spirits.

“There’s a lot of trial and error,” Ethan said. “Sometimes you think something is going to work perfectly, and then it doesn’t, so you have to go back and figure out what went wrong. But that’s part of the fun.”

Instead of dwelling on the setback, the team is using the experience as motivation. With state competition just weeks away, Ethan and his teammate are recreating their helicopter with a renewed determination. The same mindset is driving the rest of the team as they refine their notes, improve their strategies, and prepare to take on Ohio’s top 40 teams. Only two teams from the state tournament will advance to Nationals, making the upcoming competition the toughest yet.

For Olivia W., a freshman and veteran competitor, Science Olympiad has been a defining part of her school experience. She has been competing since fifth grade, first at her former school and now for Milford. At regionals, she and her partner, Arhaan H., earned first place in Disease Detectives, where they analyzed disease outbreaks and evaluated response strategies.

"I think it's fun to learn about new things, and it’s always a bonus when you get to mix chemicals and do experiments," Olivia said.

Beyond the competitions and experiments, Olivia said that the friendships she’s made through Science Olympiad have been just as meaningful as the skills she’s gained. A big part of that, she added, is thanks to Mrs. Rapp’s dedication to the team.

“She’s been really great,” Wolf said. “She was my second coach, and both of my coaches have helped us in different ways to prepare. But I’ve always felt that when I’m going into a competition, I’m super prepared and I have a lot of fun because I don’t typically feel a lot of stress—I feel like I know what’s coming.”

Congratulations to the Milford Science Olympiad team on their outstanding achievement, and best of luck at State in April! See the full list of Science Olympiad students below:

Science Olympiad Competition