Oakton Welcomes 550 Students for Illinois Science Olympiad Regional Tournament

Students from 10 middle schools and 13 high schools participated in almost 50 conference events.
Des Plaines, Ill. (March 18, 2024) – Oakton College transformed into a dynamic hub of scientific exploration by hosting over 20 schools and welcoming more than 550 students to its Des Plaines campus for the annual Illinois Science Olympiad (ISO) regional tournament, March 9.

Engaged in nearly 50 challenging STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) events, students showcased their talents and passion for innovation. Four exceptional teams emerged victorious among the participants, with two hailing from Oakton's district.

“We are thrilled to once again open our doors to the Illinois Science Olympiad here at Oakton,” remarked Gloria Liu, Oakton’s grants manager of STEAM - H and special projects. “Our commitment to our communities drives us to cultivate an atmosphere of curiosity and exploration for all who step foot on our campus.”

The journey continues for two schools in Oakton’s district, New Trier High School and Glenbrook South High School, as well as Thomas Middle School and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy. They will compete in the state tournament at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in April. The top two teams in both the middle school and high school divisions will then proudly represent Illinois at the national tournament.

Among the impressive roster of participants were over 250 students representing 10 middle schools and over 300 students representing 13 high schools. Participating schools included Old Orchard Junior High School and British International School of Chicago, and a lineup of high schools including Niles West, Maine West, Maine South and Niles North. Oakton's esteemed faculty played an integral role in facilitating events, including Chemistry Lab, Anatomy & Physiology, Microbe Mission and Wind Power sessions.

Illinois Science Olympiad (ISO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in a variety of science disciplines, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education of students, teachers and community coaches.

ISO tournaments epitomize rigorous academic competition, featuring various team events curated by the National Science Olympiad committee. These events strike a balance between testing participants' subject matter expertise across various scientific domains, honing their scientific inquiry skills, and challenging them to apply their learned knowledge and skills in real-world scenarios.

Do you know a high school student who would like to start their college career while still in high school? Check out Oakton’s Dual Credit and Concurrent Enrollment programs on Oakton’s website to see which option is right for them.