A Tradition of Success (02-16-09)

Can you name the Hill City program that has qualified a team for state competition for at least the last ten years? That’s right. A full team has qualified for state in this competition, beating out both large and small school from our area, for at least the last ten years. Is it art? Music? Forensics? Track? Cross Country? Scholar’s Bowl? We know it’s not football or basketball. In fact, I’ll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with sports or athletics.

If you guessed Junior High Science Olympiad, then congratulations! You have been paying attention to one of the strongest traditions we have going in Hill City. Among all the other excellent programs, in all our storied history, this program has quietly and consistently distinguished our schools and our kids as among the best in the state. I’d be willing to bet that for all the success, few in our town are even aware of this amazing run of achievement.

In fact, next to our Hill City FFA program (which I think everyone knows is among the best in the nation!), our Science Olympiad teams have been beating other schools for the longest run of consecutive years.

I don’t know if the High School Science Olympiad program (grade 10-12) has matched the success of the Junior High teams (grades 7-9), but a tradition like this doesn’t come around over night. We have Mr. Richard Robinson and his years of dedication to USD 281 to thank for such a long run of science excellence, as well as Mrs. Linda Nighswonger, who though much newer to our staff, has been a vital partner to Mr. Robinson in ensuring that Hill City maintain its absolute scientific dominance among our neighbors.

So what is Science Oympiad? It is a day of competition in twenty-two scientific events. The competitions take the form of paper and pencil tests, as well as prepared projects, and impromptu construction of projects. It requires both organized after-school practices and a lot of lonely, on-your-own, nose-in-a-book study.

This week, our two teams traveled to Hays to compete against seven other local programs for the right to compete at the State Science Olympiad tournament in April. Not surprisingly, both the junior high and the senior high team placed second at their respective competitions, and both earned the honor to be counted among the best science programs in the state. In the twenty-two events, our junior high team (again, I am more aware of their results) earned two first place awards, two second place honors, five third place spots and four fourth place rankings.

From my perspective, one of the biggest factors in maintaining a tradition of success is the expectation of success. When I taught at Wheatland High School, our volleyball teams were expected to be good, year after year, and the run of state teams were proudly displayed and talked about year after year. Quinter is known for its outstanding forensics program. It is just expected for them to either win or place as a team at every tournament in which they compete. Smith Center, of course, is expected to win in football, as evidenced by their long standing winning streak. I could on and on. Traditions of success breed the expectation for success.

Hill City has many traditions of success. Our art program is routinely amazing, and this year is no different with our high school artists winning many Best-in-Show Awards at the MCL Art show. Our Boy’s Basketball teams are expected to be strong every year – an expectation that begins with a coach with 500 plus wins.

Science Olympiad deserves its place among Hill City’s best. Qualifying for state is not something that can be taken for granted. It has to be earned with hard work and hours of preparation, year after year. It has to be expected. It has to be a tradition of success.