CCHS Science Olympiad Team Takes on Regionals

The CCHS Science Olympiad team on competition day.

Science Olympiad is one of the nation’s most competitive STEM competitions, bringing together top student teams to compete in events covering biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and technology. This year, Culver City High School’s 15-member team took on the annual regional competition on February 7 at Pasadena City College, demonstrating months of preparation and dedication.

Unlike many other schools, CCHS’s Science Olympiad team is entirely student-led. “Running a student-led team hasn’t been easy,” said president Luna-Violet Sands, a junior. “But it has made us stronger and more independent”. Founded just three years ago, the team operates without school supervisor. Presidents Luna-Violet Sands and Evan Daurio, along with vice president Myla Wu, lead the organization by coordinating meetings, organizing study schedules, and ensuring members are prepared for competition day.

Starting from scratch was not easy. With no adult or mentor to guide them, students had to build the club’s structure, recruit members, and prepare for competitions on their own. Now that the club has been running for 3 years, the team has developed a system that emphasizes commitment and accountability. Members meet every Monday in Mr. Bakunin’s room to discuss progress, plan for upcoming events, and collaborate on studying. They also meet outside of school, usually at a president's house to prepare for their specific events.

The regional competition is highly competitive, as up to 1,000 students from across Southern California participate. Division C, which includes high school teams, features 23 different events divided into lab, study, and build categories. These events span subjects such as life science, earth science, chemistry, physics, and technology.

For example, in study-based events like Anatomy and Physiology, students must memorize complex body systems and apply their knowledge to challenging case-study questions under timed conditions. In build events, competitors design and construct engineering projects months in advance, testing and refining their models before competition day. Preparation for these events can take anywhere from four to six months.

At regionals, each event is completed in pairs, meaning two students represent their school in each subject area. At CCHS, interested members must first take a qualifying test based on official Science Olympiad materials. Those who score well earn the opportunity to compete, while others continue supporting the team and preparing for future competitions.

The stakes are high. During the awards ceremony, judges announce the top six teams in each event and award bronze, silver, and gold medals. In addition to event medals, special recognition is given to teams that demonstrate leadership and perseverance.

This year, CCHS earned a Certificate of Inspiration and Leadership, recognizing the team as the only fully student-led program at the competition. While many schools benefit from faculty advisors and school funding for materials and equipment, CCHS operates with limited resources. Despite these challenges, the team’s commitment and independence continue to set them apart in one of the region’s most demanding academic competitions.

Many students may wonder why anyone would choose to study for yet another test outside of school. However, for members of CCHS’s Science Olympiad team, the competition is about more than just tests. Unlike required coursework, students select events that genuinely interest them, allowing them to dive deeper into subjects through research, labs, and hands-on experimentation. While the competition can be stressful and intense, it also creates opportunities to collaborate with like-minded peers, get more scientific knowledge, and develop skills that extend far beyond the classroom. For this student-led team, the Science Olympiad competition is not just another test, it is a chance to turn a passion into an extraordinary achievement.