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Monthly Newsletter

This newsletter will be sent to all coaches registered for the 2024-2025 season. If you know additional contacts for other teams who did not receive this email, give them a wink and a nudge to get their team registered and they’ll receive the newsletter shortly thereafter! 

Welcome to the Ohio Science Olympiad 2024-2025 Season!

My name is Mariah Lesar, and I took over the role of Ohio Science Olympiad state director when I joined The Ohio State University Office of Academic Affairs as the education programs senior specialist in February 2024.  

I quickly jumped into planning the 2024 Ohio Science Olympiad (OHSO) State Tournament at the end of April. I would not have been able to take on such a massive event without the immense support I received from the Science Olympiad community. I want to take a moment to thank those who made the state tournament possible and thank all of Ohio Science Olympiad for accepting me with open arms into this community, which I have come to refer to as the Science Olympiad family. 

I graduated in 2023 from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a molecular genetics specialization, and minors in Spanish and entrepreneurship. STEM has always been my passion, and I’m blessed to be in a role that, at the end of the day, impacts students, encourages exploration and enhances visibility of the ever-changing field.  

Some fun facts about me; I grew up in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, as the fourth oldest (what I refer to as being the lower-middle child) of six kids. I have acquired two Australian shepherds, and recently, a new kitten — Auggie, Ellie, and Jovie — since moving to Ohio, and for the past three years, I’ve been learning American Sign Language.

I look forward to working with you all and supporting you throughout the Science Olympiad season and beyond; I’m only an email away. 

Thank you for your time, expertise and commitment to this organization and your students.

Mariah Lesar 

lesar.2@osu.edu 

2024-2025 Season at a Glance 

Regional Tournaments

Region 1-Northeastern: March 8, 2025

Region 2-Western: March 15, 2025

Region 3-Eastern: March 8, 2025

Region 4-Northern: March 8, 2025

Region 5-Southwestern: March 8, 2025

Region 6-Central: March 15, 2025

Region 7-Southeastern: March 8, 2025

Region 8-Northwestern: March 15, 2025

State Tournament:

The Ohio State University

Saturday, April 26, 2025

National Tournament: 

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

May 23-24, 2025 

Invitational Tournaments

Invitational tournaments are a great way to expose your students to the environment of competition day where the emphasis is practice, experience and feedback with more relaxed judging. Check out the available 2024-2025 invitational tournaments on our OHSO state webpage. Another great resource on our state website is the Coaches page, which will be updated with content throughout the season. 

Division B&C:


Mason Invitational 

Format: Satellite, Division B and Division C 

Date: Nov. 16-24, 2024 

Cost: $80 first two teams; $60 subsequent teams 

Coordinator: Steven Seiler 

Email: masonscio@gmail.com 

Phone: 513-805-1770 

Register 

More Information  

Division B (Grades 6-9) Only: 


Sylvania Southview Division B Science Olympiad Invitational 

Format: In-person 

Date: Dec. 14, 2024 

Location: Sylvania Southview High School 

Address: 7225 Sylvania Avenue, Sylvania, OH 43560 

Cost: $100 per team 

Coordinator: Anna Drake-Kotz 

Phone: 419-601-9787 

Email: adrake-kotz@sylvaniaschools.org 

Register 

Division C (Grades 9-12) Only:


Northview Science Olympiad Invitational 

Format: In-person 

Date: Dec. 7, 2024 

Cost: $100 per team 

Location: Northview High School 

Address: 5403 Silica Drive, Sylvania, OH 43560 

Coordinator: Andy Roth 

Email: snvscioly@gmail.com 

Phone: 419-343-4289 

Register 

Coaches Roundtables

The monthly Coaches Roundtable meetings provide a unique opportunity to collaborate as coaches, with other coaches, in a stepwise fashion to support you in your role. Science Olympiad can feel overwhelming at times serving as a coach, whether new or experienced, and these meetings serve as a platform to connect with your peers who are encountering the same problems or may have encountered them previously and can offer some suggestions based off their experience.  

Meetings will take place every third Wednesday of the month from 8-9 p.m. A recording of each session will be sent to attendees within three working days. I will also include a link to the recording in the following monthly newsletter along with the next month’s meeting link, date and topic. 

Registration Payment Process Reminder

Not registered?

Register now

This year, OHSO will utilize the Ohio State University payment system through the Office of the University Bursar. In utilizing this method, payments are sent straight to the university bursar, enhancing security and tracking capability. Please review the Accounts Receivable page of the Office of Business and Finance at Ohio State for explicit details on the invoicing process, an example customer invoice, and a copy of a signed W-9 for download. 

Registrations will be entered by OHSO in the invoicing system on two dates:

  • Round 1 Registration Invoicing: Oct. 30, 2024, at 11 a.m. 
  • Round 2 Registration Invoicing: Dec. 13, 2024, at 11 a.m.   

About your Invoice:

Each invoice contains a unique customer number (CST-) and an invoice number (CI-) that you must include with your payment when you remit it. 

A paper copy of your invoice is printed and mailed to the address provided in your registration, and you will be emailed a copy of your invoice from the university bursar to the account(s) provided during registration within 24-48 hours of invoicing. All fees must be acknowledged/paid/sent by Jan. 28, 2025, to ensure confirmation of payment prior to the first regional tournaments on March 8, 2025. 

Email Mariah Lesar, state director, at lesar.2@osu.edu to confirm payment has been sent to OHSO. Mariah will provide a confirmation email when the account is settled on OHSO's end.  

Methods of Payment:

Pay by Card: 

Paying online is the fastest and safest way to post payment to your account. When you pay online, the transaction posts within 24 hours, clearing the balance due by the amount you paid. You may choose from one of the following payment methods:  

  • eCheck (ACH) — use your bank account and routing number for funds withdrawal from your account; there are no fees associated. 
  • Credit or Debit Card — use your MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express debit or credit card number for payment processing; there is a 2.85% convenience fee assessed at checkout. All credit and debit cards must be payable in U.S. dollars. 
Pay by Mail: 

Please make all checks payable to The Ohio State University and include your Customer Number (CST- ) and Invoice Number (CI-; CIC-; CID-; CIR-) in the Memo line. Failure to include this information with your payment may result in processing delays.

Submit your check payment to:

The Ohio State University

P.O. Box 182905

Columbus, OH 43218 

Finance charges and/or late fees may apply if payment is not received by the due date listed on your invoice. Please allow one to two weeks from the time you send your payment for it to be posted to your account. All mailed payments are processed within two to three business days of receipt at the Office of the University Bursar. 

Pay by Purchase Order: 

Please note, coaches will need to open their purchase order prior to the invoice date. Invoices will be sent on: Oct. 30, 2024, and Dec. 13, 2024.  

If your district requires a purchase order number on the invoice to process payment, please reach out to the state director, Mariah Lesar, at lesar.2@osu.edu prior to the invoicing dates (Oct. 30, 2024 or Dec. 13, 2024) with your purchase order number.