Budding young scientists from throughout the region are gearing up to participate in the 40^th Annual Stanislaus County Regional Science Olympiad on March 8, 2025, at Modesto Junior College (West Campus Science Center). The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and will end with the awards ceremony, held inside the Agriculture Pavilion, at 4:45 p.m. More than 500 students representing area middle and high school students will participate in the day-long event. The public is invited to attend. Admission and parking are free.

This year’s Science Olympiad, sponsored by the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) and the Modesto Junior College, will have participants from the following junior high/middle schools: Blaker-Kinser, Cardozo, Hickman Charter, La Loma, Oakdale, Our Lady of Fatima, Prescott, Riverbank Language, Roosevelt, Sacred Heart, and Ustach. Participating high schools include Beyer, Central Catholic, Davis, Don Pedro, Downey, Enochs, Gregori, Merced, Modesto, Oakdale, Oakdale Charter, Pitman, and Turlock. More than 125 science educators and community volunteers will judge or assist with the competition. 

The Regional Science Olympiad consists of individual and team events that encourage learning in biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, problem-solving, and technology. Some events require students to build devices before the competition, some require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, and others focus on science processes, skills, or applications. This year’s state NorCal Science Olympiad is scheduled for April 5, 2025, at California State University, East Bay, in Hayward.