STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN STEM OLYMPICS

A long day of science and math may not be for everybody, but nearly 300 Grade 7 and 8 Toronto District School Board students knew exactly what they were signing up for at the 16th annual Mackenzie Science and Engineering Olympics earlier this month.

Students from 12 middle schools from across Toronto participated in the annual competition that is designed and hosted by students at North York's William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate.

Participants compete in 24 events and three enrichment seminars across all branches of science, including engineering, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics.

"We understand that math and science might not be the most popular thing in middle school," said Grade 12 student and event spokesperson Jeffrey

Hu. "But we want to engage them and show them that it can have a positive impact and it can be fun if you really are interested in it and you can really apply it to real world things."