News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 4/4/03   SOUTHEASTERN HOSTS LOUISIANA SCIENCE OLYMPIAD, APRIL 12       HAMMOND -- More than 400 students from sixth graders to high school seniors will gather at Southeastern Louisiana University April 12 for some seriously scientific fun and games.       The students are finalists in the state Science Olympiad, which Southeastern hosted for the first time last year. Twenty-six teams junior high and high school teams were chosen for the state championship after finishing in the top five at district olympiads.        Students will compete in several dozen events that use the format of popular board games, television shows and athletic games to test their knowledge of science disciplines such as biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, computers and technology.       The Southeastern Olympiad is being coordinated by chemistry professor Linda Munchausen, who has recruited fellow faculty members to supervise the dozens of scientific contests.       “We’re looking forward to having a great time again this year with these bright, eager future scientists,” Munchausen said. “The Science Olympiad is a proven success in increasing student scores and student interest in science – and it’s great public relations for our profession of science education.”         The Science Olympiad’s opening ceremony is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. at the Pottle Music Building Auditorium. The day’s events will end with an awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m., also at Pottle Auditorium.       Participating schools are:       ALEXANDRIA: Alexandria Country Day School, Tioga Middle School.       BATON ROUGE: LSU Laboratory School, Baton Rouge Magnet High School.       BOUTEE: Hahnville High School.       CECILIA: Cecilia High School.       CHALMETTE: Andrew Jackson High School.       LAFAYETTE: Paul Breaux Middle School, Our Lady of Fatima School, Lafayette High School.            MANDEVILLE: Mandeville High School.       METAIRIE – Meisler Middle School, Ridgewood Preparatory School, St. Martin’s Episcopal School.       NATCHITOCHES: Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts.       NEW IBERIA: Belle Place Middle School, New Iberia Senior High School, Westgate High School.       NEW ORLEANS: Louise McGehee School, St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Benjamin Franklin High School, Mt. Carmel Academy.       SHREVEPORT – St. Mark Cathedral School, C.E. Byrd High School, Caddo Magnet High School, Northwood High School.       For additional information about the Louisiana Science Olympiad, call Munchausen at 985-549-3935 or lmunchausen@selu.edu. Additional information is available online at www.selu.edu/msub. Return to News Releases