Cherokee County Elementary Scientists Earn State Berths After District Science Olympiad

Elementary school students across Cherokee County proved their science chops at the annual Cherokee County Science Olympiad district competition, with three schools punching their tickets to the state tournament. Carmel Elementary School took first place, Avery Elementary School finished second, and Bascomb Elementary School claimed third. All three teams will advance to the state competition in May at Kennesaw State University.

The districtwide event featured 18 science challenges spanning a wide range of STEM disciplines, from life science and earth science to engineering design and data analysis, requiring students to master content, think on their feet, and collaborate under pressure. Alongside the main competition, the fourth annual CCSD Speed Building Competition drew its own field of competitors and crowned its own set of winners.

Science Olympiad is one of the most demanding academic extracurriculars available at the elementary level. Unlike a single-subject quiz bowl or spelling bee, it asks teams to prepare across dozens of scientific domains simultaneously, with events that reward both deep knowledge and hands-on problem-solving. Earning a top-three finish at the district level, and a spot at states, reflects months of after-school preparation by students and the teachers who coach them.

Carmel Elementary's first-place team included Emily Banks, Korina Beavers, Adeline Buckley, Kristian Butler, Skyler Crofts, Elianna Donovan, Skiilar Fountain, Carolina Garcia, Addie Hayes, Connor Heaberg, Emmanuel Hernandez, Audrey Holt, Enzo Inaudi, Sophia McCoy, Holden Motsinger, Emerson Mummert, Milo Pope, Luis Ramirez, Brayden Smith, Elliott Valdes, and Noble Whitehurst. The team was coached by teachers Kate Henriques, Tim Reister, and Ian Schumacher.

Avery Elementary's second-place squad included Aanu Agunbiade, McKenna Aldrich, Asher Bennett, John Daniel Berkemeier, Pranav Dasari, Carson Fleming, Charolette Hughes, Blakely Lord, Anvith Malgireddy, Arish Nayak, Srihas Padmaraju, Henry Prance, Jaasvi Pudota, Shourya Puli, Mason Rappaport, Gahan Rela Muni, Samaria Sanevelly, Weston Shoaff, Elenore Williams, and Anvi Yadav. Coaches Lyndsey Reed and Miranda Satterfield guided the team.

Bascomb Elementary's third-place roster featured Caitlin Clark, Samuel Davis, Silas Dowdy, Ethan Freisthler, Lienna Goodloe, Mike Goodloe, Elsa Gustafson, Luke Gustafson, Bradley Halsema, Olivia Hersh, Wilder Johnson, Kayden Jones, Huxley Kierbow, Caroline Mink, Esther Montero, Olivia Moore, Cooper Pierce, Finley Salzberg, Quinley Sand, Ivan Saye, Maryam Seasay, Cooper Strickland, Sullivan Walker, and Marissa Vasquez, led by coaches Kaitlyn Eagens, Kelly Garcia, Jennifer Mendenhall, and Tammy Videkovich.

In the Speed Building Competition, Holly Springs Elementary STEM Academy took first place, Johnston Elementary finished second, and Macedonia Elementary School placed third.

The competition was made possible in part by sponsors Cobb Electric Membership Corporation and Gas South, two regional energy providers with a track record of supporting educational initiatives across the greater Atlanta metro area. Their backing helps CCSD absorb the logistical costs of running a large-scale academic competition open to schools throughout the district, keeping participation accessible regardless of a school's individual resources.

For the families of the nearly 70 named competitors across the three advancing schools, the state stage at Kennesaw State University represents something tangible: proof that the early-morning study sessions, the after-school practice rounds, and the lab coats worn with obvious pride paid off. Cherokee County will have three teams to cheer for in May.