Central Maryland - Division C Tournament

     - Photos of the Tournament
     - AA Scores
     - A Scores

Coaches, Judges, and Volunteers,

GREAT JOB pulling together the Central Maryland Division C tournament - I am SO HAPPY!

Joan McDermott, our tournament director, I'm sure we don't realize just how much work and sacrifice you put into this tournament. The national Science Olympiad organization says a tournament director should expect to work about 200 hours. WHERE does that kind of time come from? Only from the HEART!

We could never ASK teachers for such extra effort on top of all that is already offered. To our past tournament directors, Joelle Miller, Jason Johnson, and now Joan McDermott, we recognize your amazing spirit!

There exist so many challenges as we transition from zero participation to a point where we can support statewide, fair, fun competition.

As I consider the differences between this tournament and others, I see MANY schools with TWO and a couple with THREE teams participating. I'd like to take this opportunity to highlight multiple teams:

I LIKE the enthusiasm!
Having multiple teams serves many useful purposes.
But, More work for coaches. Point to consider: the National Org allows multiple teams from one school as long as there is a coach for each team. MSO provides much leeway because we are in the building stage of program participation. For now, we assume coaches get help from parents and colleagues as required.
More diversity seen by judges: the more teams a school registers, the more deeply we reach into each school's student enrollment. We expect to see more diversity in preparation and talent between teams.
We should expect to see more diversity in performance at the regional level than at the state level. As we grow, perhaps next year, we will begin to limit team advancement to the state level. Before long, only the top teams from each REGION will advance to state.

Our thanks to tournament Event Supervisors who volunteered from science and technology organizations: Ft. Detrick’s Uniformed Services University and 21st Signal Brigade, JHU Applied Physics Laboratory, Bechtel, Prince Georges Community College, Salisbury State, the University of MD/SEA, and the Department of Energy.”

We should all thank QIAGEN of Germantown, MD for providing the beautiful awards for our tournament. You will NOT BELIEVE how we got this funding: QIAGEN called MSO this year and OFFERED funding before MSO asked!!! Well done QIAGEN!

Again, GREAT JOB!

-Al Causey

Director Maryland Science Olympiad

Comments from the Tournament

If you would like to have your comments added here, send an email to info@marylandscienceolympiad.org

Thanks so much for your very generous and gracious reception that our team received on Saturday.

Thanks again for this fine opportunity for NLCS students to compete with larger student bodies and be able to compare their work. Your MSO team did an outstanding job and the facilities were spacious!

In His service,
Esther Smith