The Bedford Middle School (BMS) Science Olympiad team braved freezing temperatures on Saturday, February 7, to compete in the Harvard Science Olympiad Invitational, one of the most challenging tournaments in the region. The event drew top-performing teams from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, along with nationally recognized programs from Florida and Texas.

For several Bedford students, the Harvard Invitational marked their first Science Olympiad competition, while veteran team members faced a particularly rigorous slate of events against elite opponents. The team rose to the challenge, earning an impressive third-place finish in the Remote Sensing event.

Andrew Hartono and Rohan Gowthan secured the team’s top result of the day, placing third in Remote Sensing, an event that requires students to analyze satellite imagery to identify and interpret environmental changes such as shifting coastlines and deforestation patterns.

“This tournament challenged students at every level, and they rose to the occasion,” said Dr. Cortright, Bedford Middle School Science Olympiad coach and advisor. “From first-time competitors to experienced team members, everyone grew as scientists and collaborators.”

“The Harvard Invitational is known for its difficulty, and our students showed tremendous perseverance, curiosity, and teamwork,” said Dr. Adam Rosen, principal of Bedford Middle School. “Whether it was their first competition or one of many, every student represented Bedford with pride.”

The BMS Science Olympiad team included the following students:

Julie Ye
Karina Chabria (BMS alum, now a ninth grader at Staples High School)
Sophia Muriel (BMS alum, now a ninth grader at Staples High School)
Hamzah Yekta
Ryan Ismael-Bakkali
Danny Chaney
Chase Hamilton
Logan Warnke
Madyan Hemdan
Danielle Tom
Aarohi Dani
Leanne Wong
Brooke Burdeshaw
Yulia Kosternichenko
James Yang
Aniel Irimuscu
Theo Pietras
Lucas Guo
Sebastian Ferreira
Amy Hu
Maddy Alperovich
Sammi Heiser

The Harvard competition provided students with an opportunity not only to test their scientific knowledge, but also to collaborate, problem-solve, and learn alongside peers from some of the strongest Science Olympiad programs in the country. A team photo was taken from the third floor of Sever Hall on Harvard University’s campus, marking the memorable experience.

Participation in Science Olympiad supports Bedford’s commitment to hands-on learning, critical thinking, and academic challenge, helping students build skills that extend well beyond the classroom.