The STEM Yard

Did you know that homeschools can compete in NC Science Olympiad? In this week's episode, Alonzo chats with Coach Kristin Russell and teammate Azlyn Raja of DaVinci’s Dragons. DaVinci's Dragons is one of oldest and the largest homeschool team in North Carolina. Kristin and Azlyn share their experience including the challenges and perks of running a homeschool team, how to manage sibling dynamics and Kristin's essentials for Sci Oly success.

Resources
Coach Companion Guide | Student Companion Guide
*These guides were developed by former DaVinci's Dragons head coach Cara McLauchlan

The STEM Yard

🖱️Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
📩 Contact Us
💻Website  
📋Sign-up for our newsletter

The STEM Yard is a production of The Science House at NC State University. Our show is produced by Valerie Bass with assistance from the NC Science Olympiad. We are supported by funding from The Backyard Foundation.

Jonathan and Nathan Hiser are brothers and Car Event Leaders for North Carolina. The Hisers' join The STEM Yard to discuss their background with Car events, coping with failure while competing, and the importance of family connections in Science Olympiad. 

The STEM Yard

🖱️Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
📩 Contact Us
💻Website  
📋Sign-up for our newsletter

The STEM Yard is a production of The Science House at NC State University. Our show is produced by Valerie Bass with assistance from the NC Science Olympiad. We are supported by funding from The Backyard Foundation.

John Toebes is the Science Olympiad National Event Leader for Codebusters and State level event leader for North Carolina. John joins The STEM Yard to discuss his background with Codebusters, tips for forming a well-rounded team, the importance of diversity and tricks for decoding faster. In the second half of the episode, John answers listener-submitted questions that cover a wide variety of event-specific topics, including the fractionated morse cipher, Patristocrat and Cryptarithm. 

About Codebusters

In this event, teams decode encrypted messages using cryptanalysis techniques, or show skill with advanced ciphers by encrypting or decrypting a message.

Resources

Solving Guides | Tyro Tutorial | Division B Codebusters | Division C Codebusters
American Cryptogram Association

About John Toebes

John has an unusual background with skills in a number of areas. He is  an avid innovator with 114 issued US patents (and counting) and over 175 Issued patents world-wide. John's 100th US Patent issued issued on June 23, 2015. In 2018, North Carolina State University Computer Science department inducted John into their Hall of Fame. John was awarded the Jason Painter Distinguished Service Award in 2021 by North Carolina Science Olympiad.

Learn more about John

The STEM Yard

🖱️Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
📩 Contact Us
💻Website  
📋Sign-up for our newsletter

The STEM Yard is a production of The Science House at NC State University. Our show is produced by Valerie Bass with assistance from the NC Science Olympiad. We are supported by funding from The Backyard Foundation.

In our new series, we are delving into Teams on the Rise. What does that mean exactly? In North Carolina Science Olympiad, the competition for the top two spots at the State Tournament is fierce. Teams on the rise refers to the teams building momentum to unseat the top two squads who typically qualify for Nationals. 

In this episode, we sat down with Emmaline and Yichen, Co-presidents of the Chapel Hill High School Science Olympiad, to learn more on how to build and manage a top performing team and what it is like to be a competitor while also being a student leader. 

The STEM Yard

🖱️Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
📩 Contact Us
💻Website  
📋Sign-up for our newsletter

The STEM Yard is a production of The Science House at NC State University. Our show is produced by Valerie Bass with assistance from the NC Science Olympiad. We are supported by funding from The Backyard Foundation.

In our new series, we are delving into Teams on the Rise. What does that mean exactly? In North Carolina Science Olympiad, the competition for the top two spots at the State Tournament is fierce. Teams on the rise refers to the teams building momentum to unseat the top two squads who typically qualify for Nationals. 

In this episode, we sat down with Isaac and Misha, Co-presidents of Green Hope High School's Science Olympiad, to learn more about their challenges competing in middle school versus high school as well as the pressures of leading a team.

Green Hope High School Twitter
Green Hope High School Instagram

The STEM Yard

🖱️Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
📩 Contact Us
💻Website  
📋Sign-up for our newsletter

The STEM Yard is a production of The Science House at NC State University. Our show is produced by Valerie Bass with assistance from the NC Science Olympiad. We are supported by funding from The Backyard Foundation.

In our new series, we are delving into Teams on the Rise. What does that mean exactly? In North Carolina Science Olympiad, the competition for the top two spots at the State Tournament is fierce. Teams on the rise refers to the teams building momentum to unseat the top two squads who typically qualify for Nationals. 

 In this episode, we sat down with Alston Ridge Middle School coach Michelle Gainey, to learn more about her challenges as year-around Science Olympiad coach, the Alston Ridge community and the importance of getting school administration support. 

Connect with Alston Ridge Middle School
Alston Ridge MS Twitter  |  Coach Michelle Gainey Twitter 

The STEM Yard

🖱️Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
📩 Contact Us
💻Website  
📋Sign-up for our newsletter

The STEM Yard is a production of The Science House at NC State University. Our show is produced by Valerie Bass with assistance from the NC Science Olympiad. We are supported by funding from The Backyard Foundation.

In our new series, we are delving into Teams on the Rise. What does that mean exactly? In North Carolina Science Olympiad, the competition for the top two spots at the State Tournament is fierce. Teams on the rise refers to the teams building momentum to unseat the top two squads who typically qualify for Nationals. 

In this episode, we sat down with Davis Drive Middle School Coach Elizabeth Crowell, Co-coach Meredith Walrod and team member Nishka Nerkar, to learn more about them and take a closer look at their strategies, game plan, and teamwork to learn how they plan to advance in the ranks.

The STEM Yard

🖱️Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
📩 Contact Us
💻Website  
📋Sign-up for our newsletter

The STEM Yard is a production of The Science House at NC State University. Our show is produced by Valerie Bass with assistance from the NC Science Olympiad. We are supported by funding from The Backyard Foundation.

Carolina Science Olympiad Alumni Association is a student club at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill for students who love Science Olympiad. Through their alumni club, Carolina Science Olympiad has fostered a community for passionate STEM students to volunteer at tournaments and provide assistance to local schools. Carolina Science Olympiad is hosting their first fully in person invitational tournament on January 28, 2023 for Division C at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Carolina Science Olympiad's Isa Gamez and Amil Agarwal join The STEM Yard to discuss their experience as former competitors and working behind the scenes creating their own Invitational. Topics include the importance of staying involved with Science Olympiad after high school and their passion for the Invitational and Alumni Association.

Connect with Carolina Science Olympiad
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

The STEM Yard

🖱️Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
📩 Contact Us
💻Website  
📋Sign-up for our newsletter

The STEM Yard is a production of The Science House at NC State University. Our show is produced by Valerie Bass with assistance from the NC Science Olympiad. We are supported by funding from The Backyard Foundation.

 In this two part series, Alonzo sits down with the three former Directors of NC Science Olympiad. The interviews cover a wide array of topics including the overall impact of the program, the importance of STEM education, tips for success and much more. In the second episode of the series, Alonzo sits down with Kim Gervase. 

The STEM Yard

🖱️Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
📩 Contact Us
💻Website  
📋Sign-up for our newsletter

The STEM Yard is a production of The Science House at NC State University. Our show is produced by Valerie Bass with assistance from the NC Science Olympiad. We are supported by funding from The Backyard Foundation.

 In this two part series, Alonzo sits down with the three former Directors of NC Science Olympiad. The interviews cover a wide array of topics including the overall impact of the program, the importance of STEM education, tips for success and much more. In the first episode of the series, Alonzo sits down with Manley Midgett and Dr. Jason Painter. 

The STEM Yard

🖱️Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
📩 Contact Us
💻Website  
📋Sign-up for our newsletter

The STEM Yard is a production of The Science House at NC State University. Our show is produced by Valerie Bass with assistance from the NC Science Olympiad. We are supported by funding from The Backyard Foundation.