
The H.C. Crittenden Middle School Science Olympiad team brought home nine medals from the state competition on April 13-14 to finish in 17th place overall, the school’s best showing at the state level in at least 15 years.
“It was an amazing performance,” Coach Robert Sendlenski said. “I’m very proud of the kids for all the hard work they put in and the number of medals they won as a result of that hard work.”
Eighteen students competed together at the state competition and brought home nine medals, which are awarded to the top 10 finishers in each category. The competition at East Syracuse Minoa Central High School in East Syracuse, New York, featured 39 teams participating in testing-taking and engineering events.
Eighth-grader Priscilla Zhang became the first H.C.C. student to win three medals in a single state competition in at least 15 years. She won fourth place in Disease Detectives and Towers and seventh place in Optics.
“That shows the work that she put in before school, at lunch and after school on a daily basis to cover three topics so thoroughly,” Mr. Sendlenski said. “It’s a great accomplishment.”
Most of the medal winners are in eighth grade, but there were a few younger medalists as well.
Seventh-graders Caleb Palappillil and Ben Chapman won third place for Ecology and fourth in Meteorology. Sixth-grader Daniel Ndocaj won third place in Parasitology, along with Sebastian Vasquez.
Other double-medal winners were: Alicia Huang, taking fourth place in Dynamic Planet and Disease Detectives; John Ndocaj, who won fourth in Dynamic Planet and Fast Facts; and Orlov Sullivan, who took fourth in Fast Facts and seventh in Optics.
Brothers Alex and Derek Araki-Kurdyla finished tenth in Mystery Architecture.
Mr. Sendlenski said he will miss the students who are graduating from H.C.C. this year.
“I’ve been with these kids for three years and I’m looking forward to seeing all the great things they do for the high school team in the coming four years,” he said. “I’m also looking forward to the next batch of students joining the club next year.”
Alicia Huang, at left, and Priscilla Zhang. Alicia won two medals and Priscilla took home three.
Ben Chapman, at left, and Caleb Palappillil won third place in Ecology and fourth place in Meteorology.
From left, are brothers Derek and Alex Araki-Kurdyla, who won tenth in Mystery Architecture.
Priscilla Zhang became the first H.C.C. student to win three medals at a state competition in at least 15 years.