The STEM Yard

Lights, Camera, Science! 🎬 The 2026 State Tournament Preview This week on The STEM Yard, host Alonzo Alexander sits down with NCSO Director Lisa Giacomelli and Science House Executive Director Jason Painter to preview the 2026 NC Science Olympiad State Tournament . Whether you’re a rookie or a veteran, this episode is your "director’s cut" for navigating the big weekend at NC State Univ...

Get ready for an inside look at the frontier of biotechnology with Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou, a CRISPR pioneer and Distinguished Professor at NC State University. In this episode, Dr. Barrangou pulls back the curtain on his journey from student to the National Academy of Sciences, sharing why failure is actually a scientist's greatest asset and why he is so optimistic about the future of STEM. A...

In this episode of The STEM Yard, host Alonzo Alexander welcomes back Everett Brostedt, an NCSO undergraduate assistant and the dedicated Event Leader for the Circuit Lab competition. Everett provides essential event information and resources to help teams prepare for both the test and hands-on portions of the event. Beyond the competition, Everett shares what inspired him to become an Electrical...

In this episode of The STEM Yard , we’re making a splash with Lauren Daniel, the Water Education Program Coordinator at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality . As the Event Leader for Water Quality in North Carolina, Lauren is on a mission to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. From leading impactful programs like NC Stream Watch and Project WET to being named t...

 In this special Q&A episode, host Alonzo Alexander steps into the hot seat to answer your questions about the pod and his opinion on Sci Oly topics. He’s joined by the NCSO crew to tackle everything else on your mind—from deep-dives into event prep and tournament strategy to the new 2026 State Tournament theme. Whether you're curious about Alonzo's hot takes or learning more about t...

In this extended episode, we go behind the scenes with the NCSO undergraduate student staff, a dynamic group of former Science Olympiad competitors who turned their love of STEM into leadership, mentorship, and service. In this episode, Max Thai, John Palmer, Benjamin Bates, Everett Brostedt, and Azlyn Raja share their personal Science Olympiad journeys, favorite competition memories, and the expe...

In this episode of the STEM Yard Podcast, Alonzo sat down with Rodney Smith, Principal of Alston Ridge Middle School in Cary, North Carolina, to explore why Science Olympiad matters from a school leader’s perspective. Principal Smith shares how NCSO supports student growth, builds a culture of problem-solving and teamwork, and aligns with broader goals in STEM education. From developing future-rea...

Part two of The STEM Yard’s special coverage is here! Join us LIVE from the 2025 National Science Olympiad Tournament at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln! This episode features interviews with North Carolina teams sharing their Nationals experiences, competition strategies, celebration plans, and advice for future participants. Highlights include a special segment with the Division B National Ch...

In part one of our Nationals Series, host Alonzo Alexander sits down with Sue Ellen Pegg, College Relations Director at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and host of this year’s tournament, to talk about what it takes to plan and execute an event of this magnitude—and why it matters to the Science Olympiad community. You’ll also hear from Maiya Yu, PhD candidate at Stanford University, former Michiga...

Ready for some science shenanigans? This week on the STEM Yard, we’re LIVE from the NC Science Olympiad State Tournament !  Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at these young scientists as they tackle challenges that’ll make you question your own school projects. Don’t miss out on the fun—tune in, laugh with us, and let’s nerd out together! The STEM Yard is packing up and hitting the road to brin...

The State Tournament is just around the corner, and we’re here with the NCSO crew! Join us for our latest episode where Lisa, Jayne, and Jason break will be chatting about the upcoming tournament on April 25th and 26th—because who doesn’t love some STEM-tastic shenanigans? The team discusses the bungee drop event, home bases, the theme for this year and so much more. So grab your lab goggles and t...

In this episode of the STEM yard we’ve got Emily Torkelson joining us—not just an aerospace engineer, but also a former Science Olympiad competitor and world champion flyer! 🏆✈️ Host Alonzo Alexander dives into Emily's journey from Science Olympiad to soaring through the skies. ✨ Curious how she went from science experiments to mastering flight? Spoiler: No capes were involved! Tune in for...

Get ready to be inspired! This week on the STEM Yard podcast, Alonzo chats with the phenomenal Dave Glenn, a true champion of the Science Olympiad program! 🎉 From parent to coach to regional director, Dave's journey is filled with passion and dedication for nurturing young minds in STEM. 🌟 You'll hear his heartfelt stories and gain invaluable tips on tackling the thrilling Ramp and Rol...

Join us for an inspiring episode of the STEM Yard podcast as we sit down with Jimmy Jordan, the Event Leader for Just Plane Awesome, Flight and Helicopters. With over 13 years of dedicated volunteering with NC Science Olympiad, Jimmy's passion for aviation and education culminated in his well-deserved title of Volunteer of the Year in 2024. Discover his incredible journey, insights into foste...

Get ready to be inspired!  An exciting new episode of The STEM Yard podcast is dropping, and you won't want to miss it! Join Alonzo as he chats with the amazing Ben Miller—former Science Olympiad competitor and current Event Leader for Wind Power! With an impressive West Point background and a Civil Engineering degree, Ben is here to share his journey and ignite your passion for STEM. Whether...

In this exciting episode of the STEM Yard podcast, host Alonzo Alexander sits down with Dr. Natalie Nelson, the Event Leader for the Coastal Countdown trial event. As an Associate Professor and University Faculty Scholar in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at NC State, Dr. Nelson brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. She is also the Principal Investigator o...

The STEM Yard podcast is back and better than ever! 🎉 Join our host, Alonzo Alexander, as he kicks off this exciting season with a special guest—build event expert Greg Womack-Adams! 👷‍♂️ With 15 years of experience volunteering with NC Science Olympiad and the prestigious Jason Painter Distinguished Service award under his belt, Greg has incredible insights to share. From his early days as a co...

Welcome to part two of our STEM Yard podcast coverage of the 2024 National Science Olympiad Tournament, where we dive deeper into the world of Science Olympiad. In this episode, we'll be hearing from key figures behind this incredible STEM competition. We'll get insights from Michigan Science Olympiad Director Paul Voydanoff and Science Olympiad Executive Director Elizabeth Mulkerrin, wh...

Get ready for an inside look at the 40th National Science Olympiad Tournament! In part one of our coverage, we're live from Michigan State University to hear from the North Carolina teams competing. Host Alonzo Alexander chats with teammates and coaches from Piedmont IB Middle, Jay M. Robinson Middle, Enloe High, and the NC School of Science and Math - Durham. Discover the dedication, passion...

Tune in to the STEM Yard podcast as host Alonzo Alexander sits down with Delaney Carey from ABB. Delaney shares her inspiring journey to a fulfilling career in STEM, starting from her lifelong passion for science. Learn how she turned her enthusiasm for Industrial Engineering into a thriving career at the global technology leader, ABB. Delaney offers invaluable insights and practical advice for an...

You won't want to miss this week's episode of the STEM Yard podcast, because we are  recapping the 2024 NC Science Olympiad State Tournament ! 🎉 Your host, Alonzo Alexander, is on the scene to bring you all the thrilling details. Get ready to hear about which teams took home the big prizes, and listen in on Alonzo's conversations with the incredible competitors. These students have...

 In this week's episode of The STEM Yard, Alonzo chats with NC Science Olympiad Director Lisa Giacomelli and Program Coordinator Jayne Carlisle about the upcoming 2024 State Tournament on NC State's campus on April 12-13th. Alonzo, Lisa and Jayne discuss plans for the State Tournament including ways to get involved and how teams can get into the spirit of competition.  The STEM Yard 🖱️ I...

Hold onto your test tubes because we've got a real scientific gem for you! Introducing Sidney Wilkerson-Hill, NC State Alum, brilliant Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department at UNC Chapel Hill and former Science Olympiad whiz-kid extraordinaire. From acing science competitions to shaping young minds in the classroom, Sidney's journey from Science Olympiad competitor to keynote s...

Join Alonzo as he sits down with Rooney Coffman, the Director of the prestigious Laurinburg Tournament - the oldest Science Olympiad tournament in North Carolina.  Let's celebrate 50 years of excellence with NCSO (North Carolina Science Olympiad) as we reflect on its remarkable journey and impact over the past half-century. Discover the history, insights, and stories from the first Science Ol...

Get ready to take your forestry skills to the next level!  In this episode, we have the incredible Renee Strnad, Event Leader for Forestry, as our special guest.  Renee, a true expert in the field, s erving as the State Coordinator for Project Learning Tree and an Environmental Educator at NC State University.  Join us as Renee shares her valuable insights, techniques, and secrets for dominating t...