On Wednesday, January 6^th, five IHA sophomores and four freshmen attended the New Jersey Science Olympiad held at Union College in Union, New Jersey. Ms. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Mistretta were the moderators for IHA’s team. This is IHA’s second partaking in the competition.

23 teams competed in the high school division, totaling 16 schools. Many of the schools had two teams.

The girls competed in the following events: “Bridge Building,” “Cell Biology,” “Chemistry Lab,” “Disease Detectives,” “Fossils,” and “Write It. Do It.”

Freshman Olivia Najjar, and sophomores Kristen Kjestaa, Emily Koehne, Eilis McLaughlin, and Cassie Mitsinikos competed in the “Bridge Building” competition. They built a very sturdy bridge at Cassie’s house and brought it to Union College. Despite the bridge withstanding over 15 pounds of sand, the team did not win because of a change in the required dimensions.

While the “bridge Building” event was taking place, freshman Fiona Lynch took part in identifying fossils during the “Fossils” competition and placed 13^th.

Myra Chaudhry and Rebecca Nadler, both in ninth grade, participated in “Cell Biology” and “Disease Detectives.” They came in 17^th in “Cell Biology.”

“I had a lot of fun at the Science Olympiad, and I thought it was a great learning experience,” explains Myra Chaudhry. “I had to apply my knowledge of science in the different events that I participated in.”

Heather Farrell and Cassie Mitsinikos competed in “Write It. Do It.” in which they placed 7^th and “Chemistry Lab.”

Ms. Fitzgerald is “extremely proud of all the hard-work the girls put in.”

By Heather Farrell ’18, IHA Sports Senior Editor