In passing reference, many of you have likely heard of Science Olympiad. Whether you’ve seen it advertised on posters in the hallways or one of your friends is a member and never shuts up about it, the club has certainly reached many ears. But what really is Science Olympiad? And…could it be fun?

An interview with Science Olympiad president Shelby Tyler provided substantial insight into the inner workings of the activity. A once-a-week club supervised by Daniel Gutzman, Science Olympiad is, “A really awesome club with events for all areas of STEM.” Tyler continued to say that, “The goal of the club is to cultivate future leaders for science.” The club has already seen significant success with that goal, with multiple club alumni attending or achieving admission into various elite postsecondary schools.

Tyler explained that a more focused goal that the club prepares for is the state competition at the end of every school year. This year’s state competition takes place on April 19th, and with the club claiming fifth place last year, Tyler and fellow members are, “Super excited to place higher this year.” The team that places first gets to attend the national competition, an admirable goal set for Gallatin High’s club. Tyler would also like to add that, “If anyone in Science Olympiad is reading this, STUDY!”

The club at this point has about twenty members and is growing, however, when asked if the club needs any more members, Tyler said, “We don’t need more members. More members need me.” So, if nothing else, join the club for your local Shelby Tyler.

To elaborate more on what actually goes on during meetings, Tyler explained, “We discuss competition details, how to study for events, how to prepare for events, and we have members ask questions, but as we get closer to the actual tournament we mostly use it as study time.”

When asked what makes Science Olympiad fun, Tyler insisted that she makes it fun. She clarified by adding, “The people in the club are really awesome, just hanging around with friends who share the same interests—or even completely different interests—is amazing. Also, you get to skip school for a day for the competition.” The competitions as well sound incredibly exciting. The team has traditions of bowling and playing pool at the MSU SUB, and the sense of achievement garnered after competing is always worth it.

Additionally, the club aims to allow people to develop a love for science and learning in general. In concluding thoughts, Tyler ended by saying, “Join the club because it’s fun and it’ll make me happy.”