Let the Academic Games for Area Students Begin at Scranton
The University hosts multiple academic competitions and educational events for area elementary, middle and high school students during the spring semester. The competitions include award presentations, and several also include interactive elements, such as the Evening of Environmental Science, planned for April 18 this year.The University of Scranton will host several academic competitions for area middle school and high school students during the spring semester. Competitions to be held on campus include a history competition; an Earth Day essay contest; the Hayes Competition for physics and engineering; and the Integration Bee for mathematics, as well as the Brain Bee for neuroscience, which took place on campus earlier this month.
Area students in grades five to 12 can participate in the University’s Earth Day Essay Contest. Submissions are due electronically by Friday, April 5.
Earth Day Essay Contest winners will be announced at an Evening of Environmental Science, which will take place on Thursday, April 18, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Atrium of the Loyola Science Center. The event, which is open to contest participants and their families as well as the general public, will include University student-run interactive science experiments and displays, as well as the exhibit of essay contest submissions.
For additional information about the Earth Day Essay Contest, call 570-941-6267.
On Saturday, March 2, The University will host Region 2 of the National History Day competition for Pennsylvania. The competition allows students from northeastern Pennsylvania to compete in the categories of historical essays, performances, documentaries, websites and exhibits on a historical theme. Contest winners will move on to the Pennsylvania state competition, which will be hosted on Scranton’s campus April 20-21. Winners in the state contest have the potential to compete in the national championship in Maryland, in the summer.
For additional information about the Region 2 of the National History Day competition, contact Sean Brennan, Ph.D., associate professor of history, at sean.brennan@scranton.edu.
On Thursday, April 18, the University will host its annual Hayes Science Competition for High School Physics and Engineering Students. The daylong contest tests high school students’ knowledge of physics through a series of hands-on games and challenges. Students compete individually and as part of a team. The competition can help participants prepare for Advanced Placement (AP) tests. Pre-registration is required.
For additional information, contact the competition administrator Rachel Frissell, faculty specialist for physics and electrical engineering, at rachel.frissell@scranton.edu or 570-941-7007.
On Tuesday, April 23, the annual Math Integration Bee for high school students will take place at 4:30 p.m. in the DeNaples Center Ballroom. The competition, which is hosted by the Mathematics Department, can help high school students improve their skills for AP mathematics tests. The Bee is offered free of charge, registration is required.
For more information, contact Stacey Muir, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics, at 570-941-6580 or stacey.muir@scranton.edu.
Earlier this semester, the University’s Neuroscience Program hosted the 22nd annual Northeast PA Bran Bee Competition for high school students in grades nine through 12 on Feb. 10. The competition encouraged the study of the brain and how it relates to intelligence, memory, emotions, movements, aging and other factors. The winner of the 2024 Northeast PA Brain Bee was Rachel Thomas from Central Bucks South High School. Jordan Levin from Council Rock South High School came in second place and Bernadetta Paolucci from Seton Catholic Central High School came in third place.
For more information about the Brain Bee, contact Robert Waldeck, Ph.D., program director and associate professor of biology, at 570-941-4324 or robert.waldeck@scranton.edu.
