Westminster College will host more than 900 students from 50 area schools to participate in the northwestern regional Science Olympiad competition on Friday, March 28.

The competition runs from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and features middle school and high school students' science projects and experiments.  "Bottle Rocket," "Crime Buster,"  "Disease Detective," and "Robot Ramble," are just four of 35 highly-visual experiments that will be educational as well as fun for spectators.

 The competitions balance students' knowledge of facts, concepts, processes and applications, as well their skills.  The focus throughout the competitions is on learning, participating, interacting, having fun, and developing team spirit.

Middle and junior high schools competing are:  Brookville Area, Butler, Clarion Area, DuBois Area, Ford City, Indiana, Kane Area, Laurel, Maplewood, New Castle Christian Academy, North East, Oil City, Park Forest, Redbank Valley Area, Shady Side Academy, St. Mary's Area, St. Stephen, St. Ursula, Titusville, Union, and West Allegheny.

High schools competing are:  Apollo Ridge, Blairsville, Brockway Area, Brookville Area, Butler Area, Clarion Area, Cochranton Area, DuBois Area, Fairview, Franklin Area, Grove City, Indiana Area, Kane Area, Kiski Area, Kittaning, Laurel, Maplewood, Montour Area, New Brighton, North Allegheny, North Clarion, North East, Quaker Valley, Redbank Valley Area, St. Mary's Area, Seneca, Taylor Alderdice, Union, Venango Catholic, Warren Area, and West Allegheny.

The Science Olympiad is an international non-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both teachers and students.  The Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of individual and team events, which students prepare during the year.

For more information, contact Dr. Martha Joseph, assistant professor of chemistry at Westminster College and director of the event, at (724) 946-7295, or e-mail josephm@westminster.edu, or visit the website
http://www.westminster.edu/Acad/dean/olymp.htm.