After a successful season of innumerable meets, stressful studying, and fierce competition, Science Olympiad placed sixth at the Science Olympiad National Tournament, taking place in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from May 23-24, 2025, continuing to improve from previous years. Leading the charge included this season’s co-heads, Kevin Huang, Kaci Morris, and Malachi Noel. Now, these leaders are passing the torch to the next “generation:” incoming seniors Elan Hao and Catherine Ji, and incoming junior Kate Kang.

As co-heads, Hao, Ji, and Kang will plan tryouts for the team, lead practices, and create team rosters (which comprises of Varsity, JV1, JV2, and, for some events, a freshmen team). 

“We represent the team,” Kang said via text message.

The incoming co-heads all hope to bring Science Olympiad, one of New Trier’s most successful student-run organizations, to an even higher level next year.

Read more below to learn more about next year’s leaders.

 

Elan Hao (‘26)

Hao, who will be a senior in the fall, has participated in Science Olympiad since middle school and has been competing for five years in total. Her typical events (which are areas of study they compete in) consist of Codebusters, which typically include decoding encrypted messages using cryptanalysis techniques; Optics, the study of light; and Material Science, which studies the properties and characteristics of various materials.

Drawing on her strong test-taking skills while under pressure and her status as one of the older, more experienced members of the team, Hao felt fit, well-qualified, and eager to take on a cohead role.

“I wanted some leadership experience as well,” Hao said. “I feel like Science Olympiad is the one place that I know really well, and I would be a good leader.”

Although Hao doesn’t have any concrete plans yet, she hopes to build on the team’s recent success at Nationals and the past season while maintaining the friendly and cooperative environment that contributed to their success.

“We’ve come off a really strong season,” Hao says. “I think the best thing to do for now is to try and continue that success for next year.”

Hao doubled down on this, saying that the environment and the community that is fostered is her favorite part of the club.

“It feels more like a family than a school club,” Hao says.

Additionally, when asked about a favorite memory, Hao recalls receiving awards at Nationals “because you’re at the peak of high school science and education, and it feels so rewarding to be able to get an award for your progress.”

In terms of advice to the team, Hao speaks to the importance of dedication to succeed in Science Olympiad. Doing your own research and putting in consistent practice are essential and necessary.

”If you want to score well on tests and [to get a] medal, you have to put in the time and commitment to your events since most of them are niche topics that you don’t learn in school,” Hao said.

 

Catherine Ji (‘26)

Ji has been competing since her freshman year of high school, and is a relatively new participant in Science Olympiad—the other coheads started in middle school. Yet Ji did not let that stop her. In fact, she has been incredibly successful in her typical events of Codebusters; Bungee Drop, a build event that requires making a bungee cord to drop an object as close to the ground as possible; and Experimental Design, which deals in conducting scientific experiments.

After learning that she will be a cohead next year, Ji wanted to take inspiration from her predecessor coheads. She seeks to create the same positive impact on team members just as they did, such as fostering a sense of community and support throughout the club. With previous leadership experience through her role as Officer in Student Council, Ji feels confident in her ability to lead and help others on the team.

“I wanted to apply based on the inspiration I’ve gotten from previous coheads,” Ji says. “They’ve all been really impactful to a lot of people on the team.”

Ji praises the previous coheads for their successful season and hopes to continue their efforts at future Science Olympiad meets. 

Bonded through a shared love for science, the tight-knit community and team culture is Ji’s favorite aspect of the team as well. She appreciates how members can learn from one another, travel to competitions together, and form close bonds.

“I think it naturally forms a really good community, because everyone’s super interested in what they’re doing,” Ji said.

Because of this, Ji also emphasizes the importance of connection within the Science Olympiad community and plans to contribute by implementing more team-building exercises and welcoming underclassmen with open arms. 

”I think underclassmen really benefit from having an upperclassman be able to reach out to them,” Ji says. “I think that really helps form the community I was talking about.”

One piece of advice that Ji would give to the Science Olympiad community is that the key to success is to choose events you enjoy—when you’re passionate about what you’re learning, studying will feel effortless and your hard work will be rewarded.

“Find what you’re truly passionate about so studying and success will come with ease,” Ji said.

 

Kate Kang (‘27)

Kang, a rising Junior, has participated in Science Olympiad since middle school, from seventh to eighth grade, and has continued to do so at New Trier. Kang’s typical events here at New Trier are Disease Detectives, which applies the study of disease distribution to real-life scenarios; Microbe Mission, which answers questions related to microbiological sciences; and Ecology, centered around the earth.

Kang decided to apply to become a cohead because after two years of participating in the club, Kang has found the time to appreciate the club and everything it stands for.

“I care deeply about the people on the team, and I have always believed that being a cohead can make a meaningful impact [on the club],” Kang said.

Kang has wanted to become more involved in the club and its community, and being cohead allows her to do just that.

Yet despite Science Olympiad being one of New Trier’s most successful programs, she believes that underclassmen involvement is something that can be improved. 

“I hope to make sure that incoming freshmen and JV members do not feel neglected by the team, whether that means more Q&As or including people during team dinners,” Kang said.

This makes sense, as Kang, like Hao and Ji, while admiring the competitive nature of Science Olympiad, believes that the community is the best part of the club as well. 

“During our season, we get to travel to places like Boston and Michigan, and I’ve made so many positive memories at our competitions,” Kang said.

Just as Kang herself loves the community in the club, she encourages others to do the same as she works to improve it.

“I have found that success in Science Olympiad is driven by hard work and motivation, and it is always so much easier to care when you like the people around you and the events you do.” Kang said.

Common Goals

Most Science Olympiad events are partner ones. This means that to be successful in events, such as Codebusters or Bungee Drop or Disease Detectives, not only do team members have to study, they also need to be able to work together. Because of this, a collaborative spirit is something that needs to be fostered. Previous coheads, such as Huang, Morris, and Noel, have successfully done so in the past. Next year, Hao, Ji, and Kang are excited to do the same.