NATCHEZ — Preparation and time were key factors as Cathedral High School’s Science Olympiad Team earned second place in the state’s science competition.

The Science Olympiad — a competitive, hands-on science competition — hosted 20 Mississippi schools across the state on March 27, where Cathedral competed with teamwork and a passion for science.

Cathedral senior Akua Kumi, 17, earned a silver and bronze medal during the competition.

She earned her silver medal with Cathedral senior Jay Vaughan, 18, who both worked on Bridge Building.

“The goal was to make the most sufficient bridge possible, which would be a light bridge that could carry a certain amount of weight,” Kumi said.

Participating in this event was a good reward for everyone’s hard work, Kumi said.

Vaughan participated in four projects — receiving a gold medal in cell biology.

Although challenging, Vaughan conquered this feat because of his love for science.

He plans on attending college to major in chemistry.

“Science is just fascinating because there is so much to learn from it,” Vaughan said.

Cathedral senior Mark Iles, 18, earned a gold medal in Wright Stuff, an event that involves making, testing and flying an airplane powered by a twisted rubber band to achieve the longest flight time.

“I got really into it,” he said. “The plane competition had to be my favorite.”

Iles also received a bronze medal in protein modeling with his classmate Trey Hand, 18, who used the competition as an opportunity to learn.

“I had a lot of subjects that I never had contact with before, so it was a lot of pretty interesting things that I got to participate in such as Protein Modeling,” Hand said.

Protein modeling is an event where students use computer visualization and online resources to guide the construction of physical models and proteins to understand how the protein structure concludes function.

Hand said protein modeling was his most cherished event.

Not only was the competition a first for the Cathedral students, but it also was a first for Cathedral teachers Denise Thibodeaux, Jamie Gibson and Jessie Wallace, who all served as coaches for the Science Olympiad.

“We are proud because this was our first year to compete,” Thibodeaux said. “We have not had any coaching training yet, but we are planning to get training this summer at a workshop.”

The initial plan for Cathedral was to gain experience by participating in the competition.

But that would change when every Cathedral student who participated — from freshman to seniors — earned a medal.

“To actually place in the top 20 teams in the state is just incredible,” Thibodeaux said. “They are bright dedicated students who spent so much time outside of class — including weekends and mornings — preparing for this event.”

Gibson said the students were dedicated as they prepared for state competition.

“They are phenomenal,” she said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Cathedral was able to attend the state competition after placing in the Southwest Regional Science Olympiad in February at Copiah Lincoln Community College in Natchez, where the team competed in 14 out of 15 evens and won six gold medals, four silver medals and the third place overall trophy.

2015 State Olympiad Medalist

Gold Medals

Cell Biology: Jay Vaughan and Jackson Carpenter.

Wright Stuff: Mark Iles and Deja Harris.

Invasive Species: Emily Hootsell and Margaret Jordan

Silver Medals

Bridge Building: Jay Vaughan and Akua Kumi.

Entomology: Jay Vaughan and Jackson Carpenter

Write It, Do It: Eden McMillin and Rudy Nugent

Bronze Medals

It’s About Time: Silas Whitaker and Christian Jenkins.

Mission Possible: Silas Whitaker and Akua Kumi.

Protein Modeling: Trey Hand, Mark Iles and Alex Weadock.

Microbe Mission: Akua Kumi and Jackson Carpenter.