Oakdale Joint Unified has once again exemplified academic excellence as the Fair Oaks Falcons recently secured First Place honors for the third time at the Stanislaus County Science Olympiad competition.
Coached by Fair Oaks educators Mary White and Jessica Fisher, the team of 18 earned a number of team medals in addition to the coveted championship trophy.
“This is our third time in a row of getting first place,” White said of the team, noting approximately 80 percent of the team returned from the previous year.
The coaches shared the students commit, depending on their event, to as much as two hours a week of practice on campus, as well as at home beginning in October.
“The fact that they have seen that we have won before, they get really excited about that,” White stated of the commitment to the team.
“Having the events split up, so that she (Coach Fisher) only has to be an expert in half and I only have to be an expert in half. Them coming twice a week, that helps,” White shared of her thoughts on the team’s continued success.
“Throughout the year, we each have one day a week,” Fisher added. “For the most part, I think the way that we split it up makes it easier on us. It’s definitely a lot of work to prepare them.”
Both also pointed out that having two coaches (splitting the stipend) has been beneficial overall.
Equally important is the dedication the 18 students apply to their given course of study. The coaches noted they push the elementary students to be responsible for their event, taking ownership over their participation. Parent involvement is equally important, the educators shared that the day of the competition all parents were in attendance to support their student.
“They all came,” White said of the support. “They’re very involved.”
Yet the final result was a nailbiter as the category awards were being announced. With not as many students receiving medals as they have in the past, the coaches were uncertain.
“We were thinking second place, so then when they called the second place winner we were like, I don’t know if this is going to happen,” Fisher confided. “So it was really exciting.”
As the coaches reflected on event day, they shared their pride in the overall team for their success, as well as their commitment.
“They do so much,” Fisher stated about their commitment, “they go above and beyond every day.”
“Trying so hard on topics they’re learning, that I don’t know if other kids would be so excited about. I tell them they have this knowledge now that other kids, not even their parents have on things,” White summarized, “but the day of is so much fun. I think it’s a lot of work, but it’s so much fun.”
The following students placed in the top five for their category:
Catapult: Caleb Gardner and Carter Birchall, First Place. Crime Busters: Carter Birchall and Madison Lang, Second Place. Disease Detective: Dakota Radcliffe and Kailin Wei, Second Place. Don’t Bug Me: Kate Oliveira and Sam Cordano, Fourth Place. Elements: Jacob Vass and Ben Willingham, Fourth Place. Paddle Boat: Adam Yakligian, First Place. Rock Hound: Amy Godinez Vargas and Kennedy Seefeldt, Third Place. Starry, Starry Night: Keaton Thalman and Emmett Hunter, First Place. Straw Egg Drop: Kennedy Seefeldt and Kate Oliveira, Third Place. Weather or Not: Kailin Wei and Ben Willingham, Second Place.