News and Events

Students from Cape Hatteras Secondary School (CHSS) earned top honors at the 2026 Eastern North Carolina Regional Science Olympiad, held Feb. 28 at East Carolina University.

Competing against 25 teams in Division C, CHSS students Nate Garcia and Seaton Hawpe captured first place in the Electric Vehicle event. In Division B, which featured 19 teams, Aleck Farrow and Camryn Hedgepeth earned fourth place in the Solar System event.

 

CHSS students also secured multiple top 10 finishes across a range of events, demonstrating both depth and versatility in scientific knowledge and application.
 

Fourth place, Solar System — Aleck Farrow and Camryn Hedgepeth
 

Seventh place, Boomilever — Scarlett Dawson and Thomas Kavanagh

Seventh place, Meteorology — Camryn Hedgepeth and Elle Hedgepeth

Eighth place, Anatomy and Physiology — Nehemiah Crum and Quinn Van Druten

Eighth place, Heredity — Patrick Kavanagh and Camryn Hedgepeth

Eighth place, Scrambler — Quinn Van Druten and Delilah Davis

Eighth place, Water Quality — Quinn Van Druten and Patrick Kavanagh

Ninth place, Codebusters — Julian Garcia, Nehemiah Crum and Laine Hawpe

Ninth place, Helicopter — Adalee Garcia and Laine Hawpe

 

First place, Electric Vehicle — Nate Garcia and Seaton Hawpe
 

Fifth place, Boomilever — Daniel Briones Avila and Adair Zavala-Roldan

Seventh place, Dynamic Planet — Jack Fuller and Daniel Briones Avila

Seventh place, Entomology — S. Bills and Morgan Meekins

Ninth place, Anatomy and Physiology — Alaina Bonanni and Kalynn Bock

 

Cape Hatteras Secondary has a strong tradition of success in Science Olympiad competitions. This year’s team featured several younger students stepping into larger roles following the graduation of many senior team members.

 

“Our CHSS Science Olympiad team did such a great job at the regional tournament,” said Jessica Polk, Science Olympiad coach and CHSS math teacher. “Our Division B team is composed of 11 sixth graders who truly were amazing! They worked so extremely hard and gave it their all! While we didn't come home with as many medals as we normally do, we truly believe this is a rebuilding year and the next few years are going to knock our socks off!”

 

Polk also recognized the support of fellow coach Julianna Gorges and staff members Lisa Bradley, Natasha Farrow, Ashlee Garcia and April Webster for their contributions to the team’s success.
 

Jordyn Chandler, Nehemiah Crum, Delilah Davis, Scarlett Dawson, Aleck Farrow, Adalee Garcia, Julian Garcia, Laine Hawpe, Camryn Hedgepeth, Elle Hedgepeth, Patrick Kavanagh, Thomas Kavanagh, Quinn Van Druten
 

Gretchen Altman, S. Bills, Kalynn Bock, Alaina Bonanni, Daniel Briones Avila, Alexis Cantu-Dodson, Devon Fulcher, Jack Fuller, Nate Garcia, Seaton Hawpe, Marissa Liner, Morgan Meekins, Adair Zavala-Roldan
 

Science Olympiad is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving K-12 science education, increasing student interest in STEM fields, and recognizing outstanding achievement by students and teachers. Competitions are held at regional, state and national levels and include events in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and earth science.

 

The regional tournament at East Carolina University brings together more than 1,100 students from approximately 80 middle and high school teams across eastern North Carolina each year. Top-performing teams advance to the state tournament at North Carolina State University.