May 14, 2025—Since 1985, Georgia has been competing in the Science Olympiad tournament. Today, more than 3,000 students around the state participate every year. Teams compete in invitationals locally and throughout the country. 

Science Olympiad is an extracurricular endeavor offered to 3rd to 12th-grade students. Throughout a season, teams prepare for competitions in various STEM events that rotate each year. Students compete with partners and are collectively scored as teams from their schools. Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets, with a variety of events offered throughout the day. 

In the 2025 competition, Cobb Schools placed a Top 3 winner in all three age brackets: Elementary, Middle, and High. Sedalia Park ES placed third, Dodgen MS took second, and Walton won the AA High School Division!

Sedalia Park Elementary has enjoyed strong Science Olympiad teams for over 30 years. Mrs. Leland has been the club sponsor for 40 years and has provided direction and consistency for the competing teams during that time. Students apply and are chosen based on grades, teamwork, and a commitment to meet every Thursday after school. Administration, staff, parents, and community help and support the team. 

"Something felt special this year," Mrs. Leland said. "Students were super focused and passionate about their subject area or building event. Everyone on our team medaled 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at the Title 1 competition. We won 2nd place at Regionals, which earned us a spot in the State Competition at KSU!"

At KSU, Sedalia Park competed against the top 64 teams from all over the state. They displayed their skills in weather, space, rocks, oceanography, biology, bones, diseases, building bridges, and more.

"Their team efforts earned the school the 3rd place trophy! We are so proud and overjoyed!" Mrs. Leland concluded about her young scientists.

Dodgen Middle School’s award-winning Science Olympiad Team also had an outstanding year! Coached by 6th-grade teacher Barbara Kappel, the team won the Regional competition, which put them through to the State Tournament held in Athens, Georgia, in late April. In an impressive showing, Dodgen’s team earned 2nd place in the State! 

"Dodgen’s Science Olympiad team has a reputation of outstanding achievement, and with the many hours these students and coaches put in outside of the classroom, they deserve to be recognized!" said Dodgen Principal Dr. Patricia Alford. "We are so proud of all the team members and Mrs. Kappel for representing our school so well at the state level!"

Overall, Georgia has 140 registered Science Olympiad teams at the high school level. These teams compete throughout the year in various in-person and online tournaments, with 37 ultimately being invited to the state tournament via their performance.

The Walton Science Olympiad team claimed 1st place at the State Tournament held at Georgia Institute of Technology, earning an invitation to the 2025 National Science Olympiad Tournament at the University of Nebraska in May. 

Walton rose to the top of a competitive field of 24 teams at the State Tournament in the Division C "AA Flight" (highest level of competition), a flight that included many of the state’s most accomplished programs. Walton beat Fulton Science Academy (the 2024 State Champions), Chattahoochee High School (the 2024 runner-up), and perennial powerhouse Brookwood High School for the title. This will be Walton’s first return to Nationals since 2022, when the team was State runner-up.

The 2025 state title win also earns Walton the distinction of being the first high school from Cobb County to win the Science Olympiad!

The team is led by coaches Doug Wolfe, Matt Curtis, and Wes Taylor. Their guidance has built more than a team; it is a community that thrives on curiosity, collaboration, and excellence.

Congratulations, Sedalia Park, Dodgen, and Walton! Keep up the great work in STEM and showing the rest of the state how it's done at Science Olympiad!