Nicole Girten

Hamilton High School Science Olympiad students Sierra Berry and Haven Oshell earned first place in the bungee drop event at the National Science Olympiad competition in Nebraska in May.

The team is led by science teacher Vanessa Haflich, who has led the Hamilton High School Science Olympiad team to seven statewide victories in a row.

This recent top placement is the first time in recent memory a Montana school has taken first place at a national competition event — a feat noted by the statewide Science Olympiad Director Suzi Taylor.

“I grinned from ear to ear when I saw the message from Vanessa that Hamilton had taken first place at Nationals,” Taylor said in an emailed statement. “It’s hard to even describe what a big deal this is!”

Many of the students competing at the

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