Discovery Peak wins first in Alaska 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 Alaska Science Olympiad on Saturday, March 28.

The annual science, technology, engineering and math tournament took place Friday and Saturday at the ذكذكتسئµ. Twelve student teams from 11 middle schools across Alaska 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 ذكذكتسئµ on Friday, March 27, 2026.

The Alaska Science Olympiad is organized by the Alaska 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, Alaska 529, the Alaska Blue Economy Center, the UAF College of Engineering and Mines, the Alaska IDeA Network of Biological Research Excellence, UAF faculty member Brian Rasley and UAF Residence Life.

More information about the Alaska Science Olympiad is available .

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

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