Oltman Middle School Celebrated the 17th Annual Math & Science Night: “Genius at Work”

Last month, Oltman Middle School brought curiosity and creativity to life during its 17th Annual Math and Science Night, themed “Genius at Work” sponsored by the Marathon Petroleum St. Paul Park Refinery and Oltman Staff. The event welcomed students, families, and community members for an evening filled with hands-on learning and excitement. The event took place on Thursday, April 2nd, at Oltman Middle School. During those two hours, OMS transformed into a vibrant center of exploration, where attendees engaged in interactive activities and discovered the fun side of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Throughout the evening, the gym and cafeteria hosted a variety of engaging activities. Participants raced in the Pinewood Derby, combining creativity with speed, and tested their engineering skills in the Egg Drop challenge. Many students enjoyed making slime, while others experimented with straw rocket launching to see how far their designs could travel. Eighth-grade students in Geometry and Intermediate Algebra worked with engineers the day prior to the event, building bridges. The Bridge Strength Testing station allowed participants to evaluate their own structures, while robotics teams demonstrated their impressive machines in the cafeteria, showcasing innovation and teamwork.

A wide range of booths filled the gym, offering interactive experiences for everyone. Visitors challenged themselves with math games and logic puzzles, competed in “Minute to Win It” activities, and attempted to beat the Chess Masters. Community organizations participated in the event, including the Marathon Petroleum St. Paul Park Refinery, Carpenter Nature Center, Washington County, Mathnasium, and the Cottage Grove Fire, Police, and EMS Department. These groups helped connect classroom concepts to real-world applications, giving students a broader understanding of science and math in everyday life.

Additional attractions included Rubik’s Cube racing, Snap Circuits, geometry displays from the Nifty Knotters, lock box challenges, and slime stations. A Night of Fun, Learning, and Prizes. The event offered free prizes and a wide variety of engaging experiences, making it enjoyable for attendees of all ages. Families explored the activities together, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere throughout the school.

Oltman Middle School’s Math & Science Night proved to be a successful celebration of learning, curiosity, and innovation—demonstrating that when creativity and knowledge come together, genius is truly at work. This event was possible because of a grant funded by Marathon Petroleum St. Paul Park Refinery.