Investigating diseases, identifying insects, and solving crimes: just a few of the many events students in Science Olympiad compete in.

Science Olympiad is a competitive science club with 33 different competitive events that students can participate in; it was started at MHS five years ago.

“Basically the students prepare for all these events and then in February we go and compete against local schools,” Cathy Farrar, club sponsor of Science Olympiad, said. “Whoever places in the top four as a team will go onto state and then they compete in state and national levels.”

Students who place also have the opportunity to earn scholarship money, Farrar said.

Although MHS has never gone to state, the program is slowly growing. The first year there was one team and now there are three teams. There are about 60 members in total this year.

“We probably have a good shot at state this year because we will be able to field all the events,” Farrar said.

But getting to state will take time and practice.

“We meet every other Thursday after school for first semester and then for second semester, we meet every Thursday until we compete,” she said.

Besides practicing, they also need to raise funds to compete. Last year, they sold muffins and this year they’re selling candy bars.

“On Tuesdays and Thursdays before school and Wednesdays after school we will be selling candy for a dollar because the school store no longer sells candy,” Senior Praveen Bagavandoss, president of Science Olympiad, said.

Since Science Olympiad isn’t selling during school hours, the administration approves of the fundraiser. They plan on selling until their competition in February; Science Olympiad needs to raise at least $450 in order to send three teams to the competition.

“It’s a lot of fun and you learn a lot,” Bagavandoss said.

Interested students should drop by Rm. 331 and talk to Ms. Farrar about joining.