The Wichita State campus was full of people Saturday, and they weren’t there for the big game. 

More than 1,300 high school students, coaches, volunteers and parents came to contribute to the Kansas Science Olympiad competition. The WSU Fairmount Center of Science and Math Education hosted the event. 

Thirty high schools and middle schools succeeded at their regional competitions, moving on to the state event. 

“I just think it’s good to see the students learn hands-on fun while teaching them,” Jay Super, a coach from Maize High School, said.

Students were tested for their engineering ingenuity, mathematics skills and other science knowledge. A new event this year was the Rotar Egg Drop. It required students to make devices to slow the descent of eggs dropped down a stairwell. 

“We went through, like, four designs before we came up with this one,” Katelyn Moore, an event participant, said. “We didn’t think it was going to be [dropped from] so high.” 

Moore’s egg didn’t survive the drop.

Greg Novacek directed the event. He said at least 150 volunteers worked on the Olympiad, aside from the coaches and parents of participants. Former participants often pursue college majors in the sciences and eventually help organize the event. This was Novacek’s 18th year leading the event.

“The excitement of the students makes it all worth it,” Novacek said. “The fulfillment for them is at the end of the day when we get to give out medals.”

Many students prepare year-round for the competition. They compete in divisions decided by the number of students at each school. The team with the most medals per student average, Olathe North, was selected to travel to Dayton, Ohio, for the national competition. 

For many students, the day is less about competing and more about enjoying the experience.

“If you stress out, you’re probably going to get nervous,” Meredith Dumler of Wilbur Middle School said. Dumler won a medal for the thermodynamics event. “Just keep in mind that we’re here mainly for fun because this is a fun thing and learning experience.”