Mount View MS Excels at 2026 National Science Olympiad

May 28th, 2026

Mount View Middle School (MVMS) students medaled in three events (hovercraft, water quality and codebusters) and placed 10th as a team in Division B of the 2026 National Science Olympiad Tournament, held recently at the University of Southern California. This is the highest placement achieved by any middle or high school team in Maryland history; it is also the first time Maryland has received a National Tournament team trophy.

Composed of 15 members and four alternates, the MVMS team was one of 120 teams competing in the National Tournament. While there, they participated in a number of tests, chemistry experiments, and specimen identification, and demonstrated complex engineering builds.

“[This year’s] results reflect not only strong preparation, but also the ability to work under pressure, communicate with partners, reason through unfamiliar problems, and support one another as a team,” says Dr. Stephen Vance, the team’s advisor. “And this was truly a team effort. Our club’s success would not have been possible without the support of the school, our families, and our many volunteers. We would like to extend our appreciation to everyone who helped our club this year.”

The MVMS community is incredibly proud of the team’s accomplishments. Principal Jennifer Patterson shared, “These young people represent the best of Mount View. They are engaged, committed, and so incredibly talented. I am always impressed with and inspired by each of these students.”

A complete list of the 2026 tournament results can be found online.

Photos courtesy of Dr. Stephen Vance.