StM News

St. Martin’s Episcopal School students earned a fourth-place overall finish at the Tulane Science Olympiad Invitational, competing against 18 Division C (Grades 9–12) teams in a demanding, full-day tournament held Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Hosted on the campus of Tulane University, the invitational challenged students with a wide range of engineering, technology, and applied science events that required precision, collaboration, and real-time problem solving.

St. Martin’s placed fourth overall, finishing ahead of several established New Orleans–area programs, including Ben Franklin High School, Academy of the Sacred Heart, The Willow School, Brother Martin, Covington High School, and Archbishop Chapelle High School.

Individual Event Medalists

St. Martin’s students earned multiple podium finishes across engineering and robotics-focused events:

• 2nd Place – Bungee Drop: Alex Diaz and Branden Saucier
• 3rd Place – Electric Vehicle: Grayson Lambert and Drew Zhou
• 2nd Place – Hovercraft: James Leftwich and Alex Diaz
• 3rd Place – Hovercraft: Barrett Boad
• 3rd Place – Robot Tour: Grayson Lambert and Drew Zhou

Other Top Finishers

Several additional teams narrowly missed the podium with fourth-place finishes, reflecting strong technical skill and consistency across events:

• Engineering CAD: Grayson Lambert and Drew Zhou
• Machines: James Leftwich and Miriam Taylor
• Rocks & Minerals: Aiden Molaison and Corbin Nicoladis

Rigorous Academics, Applied with Intention

Science Olympiad reflects St. Martin’s approach to academic excellence: a rigorous academic program built around purposeful challenge and meaningful application. Students draw on advanced coursework in physics, engineering, computer science, and mathematics while navigating real constraints—time limits, design tradeoffs, testing conditions, and collaborative decision-making.

Rather than prioritizing acceleration alone, St. Martin’s emphasizes intentional balance—deep academic rigor paired with structure, mentorship, and support. This approach allows students to take on demanding intellectual work while building judgment, resilience, and confidence, all of which contribute to college readiness and long-term success.

Looking Ahead to State Competition

The team will next compete at the Louisiana Science Olympiad State Championships on Saturday, March 21, at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville. Preparation is already underway as students analyze results, refine designs, and strengthen collaboration ahead of the state-level competition.

As an independent Episcopal school in New Orleans, St. Martin’s Episcopal School offers a college-preparatory curriculum that challenges students academically while preparing them to think critically, solve complex problems, and succeed in college and beyond.