Hawthorn Science Olympiad team members take part in national event

Students of Hawthorn Middle School North's Science Olympiad team are truly putting their skills to the test.

For the first time, they are competing against highly competitive teams across the nation since the tournaments moved to a virtual format due to COVID-19.

While Hawthorn's team members have only competed against Illinois and southern Wisconsin teams in the past, they are now garnering national awards.

In October, the team placed 27th out of 96 teams at the BEARSO Invitational, which was the largest Science Olympiad tournament ever held. In November, the team placed ninth out of 43 nationally-ranked teams at the Boyceville Invitational. Several Hawthorn students received medals in both competitions.

Science Olympiad is an American team competition in which students compete in 23 events pertaining to various scientific disciplines, including earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Thousands of middle school and high school teams in numerous states compete each year.

Hawthorn School District 73 is a preschool through eighth-grade public school district serving more than 4,200 students. It serves all or portions of Vernon Hills, Mundelein, Libertyville, Indian Creek and unincorporated areas of Lake County.

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