SO USA Foundation

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."

Forty years after Science Olympiad's founding, sparks fly every day - at team practices, teacher workshops, college alumni chapters, hundreds of tournaments. With a presence in every state, Science Olympiad has grown to one of the largest student-serving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions in the country. Now, we're proud to be at a point where we can invest in the future of our scholars, teachers, alumni and programs.

The Future of Science Olympiad

The Science Olympiad USA Foundation is a 509a3 nonprofit organization formed 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 begin giving back. Beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year, the Science Olympiad USA Foundation will focus its support on four main categories:

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

  • 2023 Winners > Anu Iyer, Arkansas; Ken Husty Tungpalan, Hawaii; Nina Kini, California; Nosakhare Iyoha, Texas; Sani Deshmukh, Minnesota

Science Olympiad Alumni Research (SOAR) Grants for Science Olympiad alumni doing breakthrough research at US universities - two $25,000 awards annually - application period, Spring, awards announced in July

Science Olympiad State Incentive Grants to expand programming at the state chapter level - two $10,000 awards and one $5,000 award annually - application period, Spring, awards announced in July

  • 2023 Winners - Oklahoma, Alabama and New Mexico

Science Olympiad Diverse Teachers Initiative to incentivize students to become STEM teachers in high-need communities - $25,000 in direct scholarship support to pre-service STEM teachers

  • Science Olympiad supports the OSUTeach program at the Oklahoma State University
    • ABC News Story "Why there's a special education and STEM teacher shortage and what can be done" May 2023

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 Board President and Science Olympiad 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, Two Trans Am Plaza Drive, Suite 310, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181"

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