Middle schoolers in the EXCEL program earned medals in eight events in the regional competition against 38 other Science Olympiad teams from eastern Long Island. Islip finished fifth overall at the event, held on Feb. 25 at Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills, allowing the team to take the final qualifying spot and advance to the state level in April.

“Our team had been preparing since September, and all of the late nights and weekend work paid off,” said team adviser Julia Johnson. “Islip was one of the few schools competing with only one team, so this was quite an accomplishment. We thank all the mentors who helped students prepare for events, including the new Stony Brook consortium of volunteer students who have been an asset to the team.”

The Islip EXCEL Science Olympiad team consists of Anjalee Appalsammy, Liam Biscari, James Cottral, Devin DePass, Elizabeth DeSimone, Aaliyah Esmurria, Mackenzie Howell, Emmie Jensen, Sheyla Lopez, Noah Margolin, Jaelyn McCracken, Victoria Pearsall, Vasu Persaud, Liam Rich and Steven Schadt.

Medals were earned in the categories of Crime Busters (sixth place for Esmurria and Pearsall),Dynamic Planet (fifth place for Margolin and Persaud),Ecology (fourth place for Cottral and Pearsall), Invasive Species (third place for Jensen and Rich), Optics (third place for Cottral and Rich), Reach for the Stars (fifth place for Appalsammy and Persaud), Rocks and Minerals (sixth place for Margolin and Persaud), and Towers (fifth place for Esmurria and Pearsall).