Deering High School’s accomplished Science Olympians are gearing up for the 10th annual Massachusetts Institute of Technology Science Olympiad Invitational Tournament this month – and are reaching out to the community for fundraising support to help them attend. Set for Saturday, Jan. 20 on the MIT campus, the in-person tournament will feature all 23 Division C national events, showcasing challenging lab and engineering competitions meticulously crafted and overseen by MIT's Science Olympiad alumni.

Deering High School is proud to stand out at the Portland Public Schools for its thriving Science Olympiad club, with 26 dedicated students as members. To secure participation in this esteemed tournament, schools must have achieved a Top 10 placement at the previous year's National Tournament or received a special invitation from MIT. DHS students have been actively engaged on campus, investing time before and after school, as well as during lunch breaks, to construct competitive devices and prepare for tests.

Science teacher Cyle Davenport, the advisor for Science Olympiad and the science cluster coordinator, eagerly anticipates the unveiling of the students' creations and looks forward to the January tournament. Notable participants include 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students Abdala Al-Hussaini, Alma Wallace, Asa Tussing, Cody Zheng, Daniel Landry, Ellis Retzer, Ellis Wood, Emma Murphy, Grace Kalonji, Hilary Wang, Kayla Truong, Roderick Ariza, Sophie Li, Spencer Fieldroy, and Trieu Chung.

Additionally, the Science Olympian Club students will compete in the state tournament at the University of Maine Orono in the spring of 2024. Students participating will include Violet Blum Levine, Matthew Okulski, Safa Mohamed, Noah Rasheed, Isabelle Adji, Kauther Hassan, Danielle Santiago, Peter Rank, Aidan Francis, and Petra Lo-Sears.

To ensure the success of the DHS Science Olympians, the club is reaching out to the community for support, aiming to raise a total of $3,000 for materials and some travel totaling for the MIT tournament and an additional $1,000 for the state tournament. Contributions will not only encourage the students but also help expand scientific opportunities for young learners.

You can help foster a passion for science and education in DHS students by contributing through VENMO (@cyle-davenport) or visiting the link: https://venmo.com/u/Cyle-Davenport.

Thank you in advance for being a vital part of the Deering High School community and for supporting DHS Science Olympians on their journey to success!

For more information, contact, Cyle Davenport, Deering science teacher, at davenc@portlandschools.org