Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) School of Mathematics and Sciences hosted 10 teams from five high schools for a Science Olympiad Invitational on Feb. 2.

A team from Bell County High School placed first, Bardstown High School earned second place honors and a team from Concord Christian, of Farragut, Tennessee placed third. Other teams included Corbin High School and West High School, of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Individual students earned first, second and third-place medals in the 23 events including hands-on lab events in physics, epidemiology, astronomy, chemistry, meteorology and engineering. LMU faculty, staff, students, the LMU Chemistry Club and volunteers led the events.

“Science Olympiad is one of the nation’s most prestigious science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions, and these students have been preparing for months,” said Madison Eberly, LMU recruiter and student success coordinator. “The LMU School of Mathematics and Sciences was pleased to offer this invitational as an opportunity for the schools to prepare for regionals.”

Science Olympiad is a Chicago-area-based national nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 STEM education, increasing student interest in science, creating a technologically literate workforce and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers. Thousands of students and teams from all 50 states compete in regional, state and national Science Olympiad tournaments each year.