By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@thecitizennews.com

Students from J.C. Booth Middle School, Rising Starr Middle School and McIntosh High School will be among 2,000 state winners competing in the National Science Olympiad 2000 Tournament May 20 in Spokane, Wash.

Booth's Science Olympiad Team has been the national champion for four consecutive years. This year the team is going for five in a row. The school's teams have been competing at the national level for about 11 years, according to school officials. Their coach is Mary Wilde.

McIntosh High School's team placed first in the state tournament recently at Emory University and will represent Georgia at the high school level. Its coach is Dr. Joanne Rawlings.

Rising Starr Middle School's team made its first trip to the national tournament last year and will compete again this year with coaching from teachers Julie Gray, Dr. Marge Counts and Greg Parsons.

Students from the United States and Canada will participate in 34 events ranging from “Disease Detective” to “Bottle Rocket.” Medals will be awarded to the top six place winners in each event. The top 10 overall school teams also will be recognized.