History of the Montana Science Olympiad

The first Montana Science Olympiad competition was held on the MSU campus October 15, 1985. Ten events were offered for both divisions: Science Bowl, Pentathlon, Fermi Questions, Titration Race, Rocks to Riches, Qualitative Analysis, Password, Facts in Five, Paper Airplane, and Orienteering.

Teams from 17 school districts competed in the first Science Olympiad with seven junior high and thirteen high schools. The schools participating in the junior high division included: Bozeman, Florence-Carlton, Manhattan, Monforton, Poplar, St. Labre Catholic Indian School, and Willson Middle School. The high school division was made up of thirteen schools: Bozeman, Capital, Dawson County, Drummond, Florence-Carlton, Hellgate, Manhattan, Poplar, Sentinel, Sidney, St. Labre Catholic Indian School, Sunburst, and Whitehall. Student participants numbered just under 300.

The top teams in the First Montana Science Olympiad were: Division B--Florence-Carlton Junior High School, Bozeman Junior High School, and Willson Middle School of Bozeman; Division C--Bozeman High, Hellgate High and Sentinel High. The first place teams for each division competed in the National Competition at East Lansing, Michigan on May 16 and 17. Beginning in 1988, a small school champion trophy was awarded in both divisions.

State Tournament Winners: 1985-Present

Year

Div B - Middle School

Div B - Small Schools

Div C - High School

Div C - Small Schools
2024

Corvallis Middle School

 

 Choteau Middle School Hamilton High School Choteau High School
2023 Corvallis Middle School HACHE (Helena Area Christian Home Educators) Hamilton High School Choteau High School
2022 North Middle School, Great Falls Emerge School, Bozeman Hamilton High School Choteau High School
2021 North Middle School, Great Falls Emerge School, Bozeman Hamilton High School Choteau High School
2020 HACHE (Helena Area Christian Home Educators) Absarokee Junior High School Hamilton High School North Toole High School
2019 Corvallis Middle School Absarokee Junior High School Hamilton High School North Toole High School
2018 Hamilton Middle School Absarokee Junior High School Hamilton High School Culberton High School
2017 CR Anderson Middle School, Helena Absarokee Junior High School Helena High School Culberton HS
2016 Clancy Middle School Roosevelt Jr High School, Red Lodge and Absarokee Middle School (tie) Helena High School Culberton HS
2015 Corvallis Middle School Roosevelt Jr High School, Red Lodge Hamilton High School North Toole High School
2014 Corvallis Middle School Absarokee Jr High School Fergus HS Culberton HS
2013 Corvallis MS Big Sandy Middle School Helena HS North Toole High School
2012 Corvallis MS Big Sandy Middle School Billings Central High School Thompson Falls High School
2011 Clancy Middle School Roosevelt Jr High School, Red Lodge Thompson Falls High School Sunburst High School
2010 Corvallis MS Thompson Falls Middle School Helena High School Sunburst High School
2009 Big Timber MS Roosevelt Jr High School, Red Lodge Helena High School Sunburst High School
2008 CR Anderson Middle School, Helena Clancy Middle School Helena High School Sunburst High School
2007 Big Timber MS Roosevelt Jr High School, Red Lodge Fergus High School Carter County High School
2006 Big Timber MS Big Sandy Fergus High School Sunburst High School
2005 Big Timber Middle School Valier Middle School Big Sandy High School Carter County High School
2004 Big Timber Middle School  Clancy Middle Fergus High School Sunburst High School
2003 Big Timber Middle School Clancy MS Sidney HS Sunburst High School
2002 Big Sandy Middle School Fairfield Middle School Bozeman High School Carter County High School
2001 Big Timber Middle School Absarokee Middle School Lewistown High School Big Sandy HS
2000 Big Timber Middle School Fairfield Middle School Valier High School Sunburst High School
1999 Sacajawea Middle School, Bozeman Valier Middle School Valier High School Fairfield High School
1998 Big Timber Middle School Clancy Middle School Valier High School Big Sandy High School
1997 Valier Middle School Clancy Middle School Valier High School Big Sandy HS & Manhattan HS (tie)
1996 Big Timber Big Sandy Bozeman High Valier High School
1995 Big Timber Big Sandy Bozeman High Big Sandy High
1994 Big Timber  Big Sandy  Bozeman High Manhattan Christian HS
1993 Big Timber  Gallatin Home School Bozeman High Manhattan Christian HS
1992 Big Timber  n/a Bozeman High n/a
1991 Big Timber  Florence-Carlton Bozeman High Florence - Carlton 
1990 Bozeman Jr High Bonner Middle School Sentinal High, Missoula Manhattan Christian
1989 Big Timber Middle  Boulder Middle School Helena High Big Sandy High
1988 Bozeman Jr High Monforton Middle School, Bozeman Helena High Sunburst High
1987 Bozeman Jr High n/a Helena High n/a
1986 Bozeman Jr High  n/a Helena High n/a
 1985  Florence - Carlton n/a  Bozeman High School n/a