Clinton Middle School and Clinton High School, collectively known as Team, Clinton, again have qualified for the National Science Olympiad.
The announcement came after a long day of competition among 7 venues on Saturday afternoon at Presbyterian College.
Prior to announcing the honors, State Director Patrick Nelson, himself a product of Team Clinton, presented an Honorary Gold Medal to President Dr. Anita Gustafson on behalf of the host school. When the event was announced for 2025 at PC, District 56 Superintendent Dr. David O’Shields – himself a Team Clinton coach with his wife, Terri – said, “Our community has united behind the idea of turning Clinton into ‘Science City, S.C.’ and PC plays a huge role in that vision. This event will not only highlight the talent of South Carolina’s students but also introduce them to PC’s outstanding science programs and faculty.”
The team awards followed individual awards in 23 areas of competition. The George J. Renwick Sportsmanship Award went to: Division B – Oak Ridge Middle School - and Division C – Bishop England High School.
Then for 3rd place Division B, GREEN Charter Middle School was announced.
For 4th place in Division C, Dutch Fork High School was announced.
For 3rd place in Division C, Academic Magnet High School was announced.
By then, the tension in Belk Auditorium was building among a near-capacity crowd of students, coaches and faculty, and anxious parents and friends.
For 2nd place in Division B, Banks Trail Middle School was announced.
For 1st place in Division B, Clinton Middle School was announced.
The Clinton middle schoolers will travel in May to the 41st National Science Olympiad in Lincoln, Nebraska, representing South Carolina.
Then came the high schools’ turn.
For 2nd place in Division C, Spring Hill High School was announced.
For 1st place in Division C, Clinton High School was announced.
These Red Devil STEM* competitors also will participate in the Lincoln, Nebraska, event.
Prior to the final announcement of the CHS team’s win, Nelson called for appreciation of host PC, the volunteers and events coordinators, and the team coaches. Team Clinton added, “And you,” leading an ovation for Nelson. This was Nelson’s first year as SC Science Olympiad director.
He also thanked Leni Patterson and Carl Gustafson for assistance in tabulating the results – “without whom you would still be waiting for the results” - and announced that the Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission had donated $1,000 and 24 cases of water for Saturday’s event.
The South Carolina results are:
Division B (low score wins)
Clinton Middle 35 points
Banks Trail Middle 67
GREEN Charter Middle 71
Oakridge Middle 84 and sportsmanship.
Clinton middle won 1st place in 14 out of 23 events (four teams competed).
Division C
Clinton High School 57 points
Spring Hill 118
Academic Magnet 128
Dutch Fork 149.
There were 16 teams competing in Division C.
Clinton High won 1st place in 10 out of 23 events. Medals presenters including Dr. Gustafson were State Rep. Doug Gilliam, Clinton Mayor Randy Randall, and event supervisor Amit Prakash.
Membership in this competitive, statewide event was up 29% from last year.
Science Olympiad was founded in 1983. It includes more than 13,500 schools in all 50 states. Teams of 15 students compete in 23 events.
Since 2024, Clinton/Bell Street Middle School had won state 22 times in 38 years, including a 17-year win streak. Clinton High School has won the state title 13 times.
Team Clinton was the defending South Carolina Champion.
SC Science Olympiad moved to Presbyterian College this year from The Citadel, and prior to it being staged in Charleston, at Newberry College.
More information: www.scscioly.org/state-tournament Saturday’s results are on the News page.
*STEM = science, technology, engineering, mathematics.
2025 Results link here.
