SO USA Foundation

Forty-two years after Science Olympiad's founding, sparks fly every day - at team practices, teacher workshops, college alumni chapters and hundreds of tournaments. With a presence in every state, Science Olympiad has grown to one of the largest student-serving STEM competitions in the country. From the beginning, Science Olympiad has demonstrated a commitment to giving - as of 2026, our small independent nonprofit has given more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants to more than 400 recipients. 

The Science Olympiad USA Foundation is a 509a3 nonprofit organization formed in 2020 to support the mission of Science Olympiad, Inc. Fiscal conservancy and smart investing from Day One in 1984 allowed early savings to grow to a point where the Foundation can accelerate its giving. The Science Olympiad USA Foundation makes annual grants in four main categories: college scholarships, early-career research grants, STEM teacher incentives and state chapter support. If you share our passion for this mission, please consider a donation. Options below!

Founders' Scholarships

Science Olympiad Founders' Scholarships for high achieving Science Olympiad seniors - five $10,000 awards annually - application period, Spring, awards announced in May. 

This Just In! > 2026 Winners > Eden Teclemariam, William Engel, Sree Sarvepalli, Ezra Drake and Ekansh Agrawal

All winners, $390,000 in scholarships through 2026

SOAR Grants

Science Olympiad Alumni Research (SOAR) Grants for Science Olympiad alumni doing breakthrough research at US universities - two $30,000 awards and two $15,000 awards annually - application period, Spring, awards announced in July. 

2026 Winner > for Medical Research, Harrison Ngue, MIT and Harvard Medical School $30,000

2026 Winner > for Computer Science and Engineering Research, Satvik Kumar, Caltech $30,000

2026 Runner-Up Winners > for Medical and CSE Research, Amelie Raz, MIT and Brian Amaro, Stanford - $15,000 each

2026 SOAR

 

2026 Open Invite Letter > 1-page proposals due by 3/31/26 (closed) 

  • National Survey results regarding US perceptions of scientific research, 2026, Research America: 92% support basic science research; 51% aware of gov. cuts to research; 90% want more medical research

2025 SOAR Grant Awards

2025 Winner > for Medical Research, Alexander DeWalle, University of Virginia $25,000

2025 Winner > for Computer Science and Engineering Research, Arianna Guzman Garcia, Texas A&M University $25,000

2025 Runner-Up Winners > for Medical and CSE Research, Shivani Nellore, Case Western Reserve University and Sarah Parigela, Dartmouth College - $10,000 each

2024 SOAR Grant Awards

2024 Winner > for Medical Research, Nikki Cheung, UCLA $25,000 > watch her interview from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA on YouTube > read the UCLA announcement > Research Update from UCLA School of Medicine about Nikki 4/30/25

2024 Winner > for Energy Research, Phillip Liu, Stanford University $25,000

2024 Runner-Up Winners > for Medical and Energy Research, Ravi Bandaru, The Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and Jolly Patro, Northwestern University - $10,000 each > read Ravi's team research paper in The Journal of Clinical Investigation 5/20/26

2023 SOAR Grant Awards

2023 Winner > for Medical Research, Dr. Kathryn Jackson-Jones, Northwestern University

2023 Winner > for Energy Research, Omar Kazi, University of Chicago

Press Release and PR Newswire Release

State Incentive Grants

Science Olympiad State Incentive Grants to expand programming at the state chapter level - $25,000 in total awards annually - application period, Spring, awards announced in July

  • 2026 Winners - Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Louisiana and Kansas
  • 2025 Winners - Alaska, Washington and Vermont
  • 2024 Winners - Georgia, Hawaii and Arkansas
  • 2023 Winners - Oklahoma, Alabama and New Mexico
  • Grant Report from Winners at Auburn University in AL

Teachers Initiative

Science Olympiad Diverse Teachers Initiative to incentivize students to become STEM teachers in high-need communities - nearly $50,000 to date in direct scholarship support to pre-service STEM teachers

  • Science Olympiad supports the OSUTeach program at the Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma teaching programs
  • Cohort Stories from the 12 grantees
    • ABC News Story "Why there's a special education and STEM teacher shortage and what can be done" May 2023

The Past & Present of Science Olympiad

In March of 1992, six winning Science Olympiad teams and Science Olympiad's founders, Dr. Gerard and Sharon Putz and Jack Cairns, met with President George H.W. Bush in Washington, DC. In his remarks, he marveled at the opportunity in the room, challenging the crowd to "think of the scientist who will one day discover the cure for cancer, find a cure for HIV/AIDS or solve world hunger."

Watch > "Meeting with the National Science Olympiad Medal Winning Teams" on The Bush Library YouTube channel, March 27, 1992

President Bush added, "We realize that today that man or woman is a student in science class somewhere. Maybe it's a kid who will catch a spark from this program, a spark that will change his or her life, and in the process, literally change the world. The Science Olympiad has that kind of power."

The Science Olympiad USA Foundation will accept donations to support these four core areas as well as general support for Science Olympiad, Inc. For more information on donations, bequests and planned giving, please contact Foundation President and CEO Jenny Kopach at [email protected].

Donate now using a credit card!

Checks can be payable to "Science Olympiad USA Foundation" and sent to "Science Olympiad USA Foundation, 2211 York Road - Suite 207, Oak Brook, IL 60523"

The Science Olympiad USA Foundation is a 509a3 nonprofit organization formed in 2020, dedicated to carrying out the charitable, educational and scientific purposes of Science Olympiad, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit formed in 1984.

Tax ID #85-1832224