Engineering whizzes shine at Pa. Science Olympiad
ASTON >> The young engineers of the future gathered at Neumann University on Wednesday to compete using mathematics, physics and design skills with the hope of moving onto the state tournament in the Pennsylvania Science Olympiad.
In its fourth official year at Neumann University, the Southeastern Regional Tournament is said to produce some of the top teams in the state. Harriton High School has been a perennial powerhouse, winning the state title four times.
Without an engineering program at Neumann, many of the young students must look elsewhere for a school to further their post-secondary education. However, administrators are hoping that down the line the school will start to expand their mathematics major and expand into careers in mechanical and electrical engineering.
“We only have a biology major and clinical lab science program right now, and we have a math major starting in the fall,” said Patti Strobl, head of the department of math and sciences. “They’re trying to a matriculation agreement with Drexel University.”
While still years down the line, that agreement could allow students after two years to transfer to Drexel to participate in their engineering and co-op programs.
Students Andrew Egan, 17, and Drew Jacobs, 17, from Penncrest, set the high bar Wednesday in the robotics competition, where their design flawlessly picked up and dropped pennies into a bullseye-like target for points.
Their goal was points, they landed 313.
“We take a lot of pride in our work, we have a smaller group but we always hope to pack a punch,” Jacobs said, who will attend Drexel in the fall.
Egan said the knowledge he learned from participating the robotics competition last year was indispensable in his design for the penny scooper. He was able to design and create 3D printed mechanisms from a printer in Penncrest High School to modify the articulating arm and its effective claw grip.
“On the first day of school I started planning 300 with ... I had learned so much last year, I learned more than I would have read doing research,” Egan said. “There was a lot of fine tuning to the design. I probably printed certain pieces five or six times.
Egan said he’s leaning toward attending Widener University once he’s completed his senior year.
The Pennsylvania Science Olympiad began in 1985, when it was organized by Dick and Mimi Smith, pitting 30 teams from various high schools across the state in a math and science competition at Harrisburg Area Community College.
Now 334 compete in regional tournaments across the state.
Founder Mimi Smith was on hand Wednesday in purely an observational capacity, but was happy to share how she’s seen the competition grow over 30 years.
“I just marvel at what they’re able to do,” Smith said. “You’ll talk to science olympiad alumni who have become doctors ... it’s fascinating to see people doing what they really love.”