Now studying the arts at Central Piedmont Community College, Seth Vitco previously handled retail responsibilities at Hobby Lobby in Matthews, North Carolina. Seth Vitco earned several honors in high school and made it to the regional finals of the North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO).

NCSO’s mission is to promote education in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM) for children in kindergarten through high school, in hopes they will pursue those fields of study in college and beyond.

The first ever Science Olympiad was held in 1974 at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, North Carolina. Since then, the tournament has grown significantly, with the 2018 event attracting 980 students from 85 counties. Since its inception, the Science Olympiad has become a national event, encompassing 22 activities ranging from solving crimes to examining fossils.

At one recent competition, teams vied for honors in the Duct Tape Challenge, Ping Pong Parachute, and 21 other activities. Other competitions have covered projects such as Amazing Mechatronics (computer-controlled machines) and Materials Science (plastics).