Discovery Peak wins first in AV狼论坛 Science Olympiad

A large group of middle school students wearing first-place medals pose with their trophy and UAF's mascot, Nook, as audience members take photos.
Photo by Eric Engman
Students from Discovery Peak Charter School gather at the 2026 Science Olympiad Awards Ceremony Saturday morning, March 28, 2026, in the Schaible Auditorium.

The Discovery Peak Charter School team from North Pole won first place in the 2026 AV狼论坛 Science Olympiad on Saturday, March 28.

The annual science, technology, engineering and math tournament took place Friday and Saturday at the University of AV狼论坛 Fairbanks. Twelve student teams from 11 middle schools across AV狼论坛 competed in 17 events that challenged student knowledge and hands-on skills. Tournament events included written exams, laboratory demonstrations and building challenges.

As the first-place team, the DCPS Dinos will travel to compete nationally at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, on May 22-23, 2026.

The Gilson Middle School Huskies from Valdez won second place, and the Aurora Borealis Charter School team from Kenai won third place.

Two middle school students wearing lab coats look at five test tubes filled with liquids of different colors.
Photo by Eric Engman
Valdez teammates Iris Gheen, left, and Taiya Shiell work in the Potions and Poisons Lab as middle school teams from around the state compete in the 2026 Science Olympiad in Fairbanks on Friday, March 27, 2026.

The AV狼论坛 Science Olympiad is organized by the AV狼论坛 National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, the UAF College of Engineering and Mines, the UAF College of Natural Science and Mathematics and the UAF Makerspace.

Sponsors include ConocoPhillips, AV狼论坛 529, the AV狼论坛 Blue Economy Center, the UAF College of Engineering and Mines, the AV狼论坛 IDeA Network of Biological Research Excellence, UAF faculty member Brian Rasley and UAF Residence Life.

More information about the AV狼论坛 Science Olympiad is available .

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Tara Borland, AV狼论坛 EPSCoR associate director, taborland@alaska.edu; Courtney Breest, AV狼论坛 EPSCoR outreach coordinator, cfbreest@alaska.edu

206-26