Bronx Science Olympiad Team Secures Sponsorships to Boost STEM Competition Success | The Riverdale Press

Olivia Young

Bronx High School of Science students landed a corporate sponsorship for their Science Olympiad team, securing critical funding for competition fees, travel and project materials. 

As of Aug. 18, the teens have brought in $2,250. 

The team was held back by funding challenges in past years, members told The Press. Now, the Bronx Science Science Olympiad — made up of about 150 students — is determined to qualify for the 2026 National Tournament. 

Science Olympiad is a nation-wide nonprofit that hosts science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions. The events are considered “academic track meets,” as described by the organization’s website. 

In June, members of Bronx Science’s team began sending emails to companies like Amazon, as well as New York City-based STEM preparatory programs, in hopes of sponsorship. 

“When I look at all these freshmen and sophomores on our team currently, they remind me of myself,” Stanley Yu, rising senior and head of logistics, said. “If we give them the opportunity and chance to have the experience of going to competitions — collaborating with and competing with peers — I feel like it will give them the same passion for Science Olympiad that I currently hold.”

In the email to potential sponsors, the team said despite financial barriers, it worked hard to make the most of the students’ skills. 

Between 2024 and 2025, they earned 46 medals — including first place at the New York City North Regional Competition and other honors at the New York State Competition. 

The team has finished in the top 10 in over 600 competitions since being founded in 2012. 

“Our main source of money is the [Bronx High School of Science] Alumni Foundation, but it only gives us a limited amount,” Cielle Voulgarides, co-caption and rising senior, said. “We really wanted to get our own funding to have a little more financial independence.” 

Mathnasium of Riverdale, a tutoring center for children in kindergarten through 12th grade, was the first to respond to the students’ outreach. 

“Forty percent of the Mathnasium staff were Bronx Science students,” Katie Oriol, an instructor, said. “So when we heard they were looking for some help, we jumped on it.”

Oriol added that when kids can access the proper resources to succeed in STEM fields, it lets them “push the limits, and lead us into the future.”

Mathnasium suggested the team implement tiered levels of sponsorship, a model where donors can give at different levels, each with its own perks. 

The amount starts at under $100, or “contributor” level, where supporters receive hand-written thank you notes from the team and updates on its work. 

Options increase with “bronze,” “silver,” “gold,” and finally “wolverine” at over $1,500. The benefits include merch, shoutouts on social media, and at competitions, as well as a Q&A with members. 

“It was lending expertise,” Naresh Jessani, owner and director of the Riverdale location, explained. “I jumped on some Zoom calls with them to brainstorm ideas and helped them make a pitch of what they wanted to explain to their advisor.” 

Since introducing the tier model, the team also received sponsorship from ABCMath, a Queens-based prep academy. 

“It brings a lot more formality to the whole process,” Erica Liu, secretary and rising senior, said. 

Liu later explained that the organizations the team contacts will “actually read the email and consider us.”

For last year’s State Competition in Syracuse, New York, travel and lodging for roughly 15 members costed over $1,000. The team couldn’t afford to attend any invitationals, or unofficial Science Olympiad practice tournaments, in person. Members said those invitationals were key to their success. 

“Our team is a really big community — it’s not just there for learning and competitions, we’re really connected,” said Lui, who was also involved in her middle school’s Science Olympiad team. “For team pride and having more motivation … having these sponsorships really helps with our image, and in general, how everyone feels about our success.” 

Voulgarides, who is also a long-time member, said she had similar motivations for sourcing funding. 

“I’ve been wanting to see our team get as good as I know it can be,” she said. “I want to give other members the chance to grow and see where they can be in the Science Olympiad and how they can build on it in the future.”

Keywords

Bronx Science Olympiad,

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Mathnasium sponsorship

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