Hamilton, Corvallis Science Olympiad teams take top prize at statewide competition

Hamilton High School and Corvallis Middle School Science Olympiad teams both won at the statewide competition at Montana State University in Bozeman last week — marking the fourth time in a row both teams have advanced in their respective divisions to nationals.

Science Olympiad is one of the country’s largest science, technology, engineering and math competitions, with more than 6,300 teams from 50 states participating each year. MSU has hosted the Montana statewide competition since 1985.

More than 70 teams across the state competed in Bozeman, putting their knowledge, skills and apparatuses to the test in written exams and experiments. This includes everything from insect identification, to meteorology to criminology experiments.

The students also received a tour of the MSU campus and labs “to learn about topics ranging from honeybee health to microfabrication,” an MSU press release said.

The Hamilton and Corvallis teams will go to the national competition in May, this year at the University of Southern California, where about 2,000 students and 120 teams from across the U.S. will compete in 23 science events.

Hamilton High School placed 1st in the bungee drop event at nationals last year, which the school said was the first time a Montana school has placed at a national competition.

The 2026 competition was the Hamilton team's ninth consecutive statewide win.

Hamilton High School Coaches Vanessa Haflich, Joe Ruffatto and Michael Bonnes said in a statement they were “proud of these talented and dedicated students, and we are excited to see them represent the state of Montana at Nationals.”

There were almost 300 medals, ribbons and certificates for individual event winners at the statewide competition, and Science Olympiad team trophies went to:

Division B: Middle school

1. Corvallis Middle School
2. Hamilton Middle School
3. Helena Middle School

Division B: Middle School, small schools division

1. Headwaters Academy, Bozeman
2. Helena Area Christian Home Educators (HACHE)
3. Choteau Junior High

Division C: High School

1. Hamilton High School
2. Big Sky High School (Missoula)
3. Corvallis High School

Division C: High School, small schools division

1. Choteau High School
2. Ennis High School
3. Roundup High School

Donations to help the Hamilton team go to nationals can be submitted at the school’s office, checks can be made out to "Friends of Hamilton Foundation.” In the memo, please make sure to write HHS Science Olympiad. Or make a donation online through the Friends of Hamilton Schools Foundation website.

To donate to Corvallis Middle School's team, email Darci Herbstritt at darcih@csd1.us.