Science & Arts Academy honored by Illinois Science Olympiad
Science & Arts Academy, an independent day school for gifted students in Des Plaines, has been recognized by Science Olympiad, the nation’s leading team STEM competition, for the school’s longstanding commitment to both Science Olympiad (SO) and Elementary Science Olympiad (ESO) in Illinois.
This honor acknowledges SAA’s sustained leadership in advancing, supporting, and strengthening Science Olympiad programs at both the school and state levels.
The award was presented by Kim Dyer, Illinois Elementary Science Olympiad coordinator, and accepted on behalf of the school by Conrad Wildsmith, head of school, and Colleen Storiz, SAA science teacher and co-founder of Elementary Science Olympiad in Illinois.
“We are honored to see Science & Arts Academy recognized in this way,” Wildsmith said. “Science Olympiad embodies the kind of curiosity, collaboration, and intellectual challenge that gifted learners thrive on, and it has become an important tradition in the life of our school.”
The plaque presentation took place just prior to SAA hosting the Northern Illinois Regional Elementary Science Olympiad Tournament on campus on Feb. 21, underscoring the school’s active leadership within the Science Olympiad community.
SAA elementary teams earned an impressive 20 medals overall at the regional tournament. “SAA has hosted the regional tournament three of the past four years, and our students take great pride in showcasing their school, their skills, and their love of science,” said Amy Jacobs, director of Gifted Academics and Elementary Science Olympiad Head Coach at SAA.
Colleen Storiz co-founded the Elementary Science Olympiad program in Illinois in 2015, helping to establish the state’s first elementary program and bring competitive, team-based STEM opportunities to younger students. Storiz spearheaded SAA’s Science Olympiad program, which has grown into a cornerstone of the school’s academic life, providing gifted students with challenging, hands-on STEM experiences while consistently reflecting the organization’s core values of teamwork, inquiry, perseverance, and excellence.
Her leadership has expanded access to rigorous STEM challenges statewide, fostering a strong pipeline of student participation and enthusiasm that continues to benefit schools across Illinois.
At SAA, faculty and parent volunteers coach varsity and junior varsity teams that compete in tournaments across the country, and the school fields an Elementary Science Olympiad team, building a strong culture of scientific inquiry, collaboration, and problem-solving from an early age.
Founded in 1992, Science & Arts Academy is an independent, not-for-profit day school for gifted students in junior kindergarten through eighth grade. SAA provides intellectually and creatively talented students a stimulating and supportive environment tailored to their unique abilities.
For more information about Science & Arts Academy, visit scienceandartsacademy.org.