These Bob Jones High Schools students earned gold, silver and bronze medals, plus place wins, at the Alabama Science Olympiad. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Waking before dawn on a Saturday proved worthwhile for 11 Bob Jones High School students who entered the Alabama Science Olympiad.

They traveled to Huntingdon University in Montgomery for the event on April 11.

Bob Jones qualified for state after results at regional competition at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Feb. 14, sponsor Danny Elegante said. He teaches chemistry and chairs Bob Jones science department.

At Huntingdon, first-place winners Kevin Duan and Arvind Draffen earned a gold medal for “Bungee Drop,” using an elastic cord to closely reach a surface without touching. Also winning gold, Anthony Zhu and Nikolai Fadairo entered “Scrambler” with a device using energy from a falling egg.

Silver medal winners Tian Tian and Savvina Prapiadou entered “Cell Biology” to integrate knowledge and process in cellular biochemistry. For “Write It, Do It,” Tina Tian and Victoria Van also won silver in a technical writing exercise for instructions that other students used to build a contraption.

Vi Dang and Kevin Duan earned bronze with “Compound Machines” in a hands-on and question-and-answer session. Joanna Zhang and Savvina Prapiadou entered “Disease Detectives” to investigate injury, health and disability in populations. Also winning bronze,

Vi Dang and Victoria Van competed in “Fossils” to identify and explain classification, habitat and adaptations of ancient life.

Joanna Zhang and Savvina Prapiadou brought home bronze for “It’s About Time” by constructing a non-electrical device to measure time intervals. In fourth place, Victoria Van and Vi Dang pursued “Forensics” to identify polymers, solids and fibers in a crime scenario.

Vi Dang and Joanna Zhang took fourth for “Green Generation” by answering questions about the history and consequences of human impact on the environment.

Huntingdon offers a scholarship to any student earning a medal.

Bob Jones finished sixth overall among 13 teams. “I was so proud the students got a chance to be their best. They can study, work and create and prove they’re the best in a given subject area,” Elegante said.