Berks County's Bright Minds Shine at Kutztown University

Kutztown University is all set to be the host for the 2026 Berks County Science Olympiad. The event is scheduled for January 8, with January 12 as the backup date in case of snow. This year, the Olympiad will bring together over 300 high school students from Berks County and other areas. These students will compete in various STEM events, showing off their skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and math. Nineteen high schools will be part of this event: Antietam, Bayard Rustin, Berks Catholic, B. Reed Henderson, Boyertown, Central York, Daniel Boone, Exeter, Fleetwood Area, Governor Mifflin, Kutztown Area, Manheim Central, Schuylkill Valley, Sun Valley, Tulpehocken, Twin Valley, West Chester East, Wilson, and Wyomissing.The Science Olympiad has been around for 41 years. It's a nonprofit group that aims to boost K-12 science education and get students excited about learning science. They do this through classroom activities, research, workshops, and tournaments at different levels. The Olympiad is organized for both junior high and senior high schools. Each school sends one team to compete in various events. High school teachers play a big role as coaches, judges, and coordinators. Competitions happen at four levels: invitational, regional, state, and national. The invitational level is like a practice round to get ready for regional competitions. No teams are eliminated at this local level.