Dr. Daniel Cortright led the Bedford Middle School (BMS) Science Olympiad team to victory at the Science Olympiad state competition in Coventry on March 16. BMS secured a spot to represent Connecticut at the national Science Olympiad competition at Michigan State University on May 24 and 25.
Cortright started out as the assistant coach in 2017 and became head coach in the 2021-2022 season. The program has operated at this level since 2017, with between 30 and 50 participants every year. A competition team can have no more than 15 students, so BMS competed with two teams of 14 in this year’s state tournament due to some students having last-minute illness or family commitments.
Science Olympiad tournaments consist of 23 events covering diverse science and engineering topics. Students build devices like building a timed marble roller coaster, conduct experiments, and solve complex challenges, such as building a timed marble roller coaster or deciphering coded messages.
“The events are really challenging,” Cortright said. “But if they stick with it, students start to see competitive success in seventh and eighth grade.” As they prepare for nationals, the team will be building on their school’s strong record. BMS has secured the title of Connecticut’s state champ every year since 2018.
“My favorite part is watching students grow in success during their middle school years,” Cortight said. “It is a great feeling to watch a young person realize that persistence really can pay off.”
