The Capital High School Science Olympiad Team needs to raise $7,500 by May 1 for a trip to nationals.

The team of 15 outperformed 500 students from across the state to win the honor of representing Idaho at the 2016 Science Olympiad National Tournament. The event is May 20-22 at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wis.

“This is a time for students to showcase how smart and talented they are,” said Jason Gordon, a science teacher at Capital. “It’s special for these kids to represent Capital from a science standpoint.”

The students are fundraising to help pay for travel and other expenses.

“100 percent of this endeavor has to be funded by the team,” Gordon said. “Plane tickets alone are a pretty big price tag.”

It’s the first time Capital High won the state competition held at Northwest Nazarene University earlier this month. Bishop Kelly High has won the past 14 years.

“Our goal is to set the highest Idaho record,” said Anna Green, a senior on the team.

At both the state and national level, the competition consists of events incorporating engineering, anatomy, disease detective, forestry, geology, astronomy, biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and problem-solving.

“I’m competing in the dynamic planet category and that consist of writing tests,” said Ope Abimbola, a senior on the team.

More than 7,000 students from schools across the country are expected to compete.

Click here to donate to the Capital High team.