Students from across Oswego County stepped into the world of contrasts during the fourth and final Oswego Academic Youth League (OCAY) competition of the 2024-2025 school year on April 24 at Holy Trinity Church in Fulton.
With the theme, “From Light to Dark,” event activities challenged students to explore the symbolic and literal meanings of light and darkness. Each team competed in four activities. The first was a series of light and dark quizzes, which tested knowledge in subjects including flora and fauna, film noir, and historical events.
Students also competed in a scavenger hunt and riddle-solving competition using newspapers. And to challenge their physics knowledge, groups were tasked with designing a balloon that could float the longest between two points.
The final event of the day was a debate competition, where teams received a topic to prepare an argument, ranging from whether to lower the voting age to the merits of artificial intelligence.
Judges scored teams based on their debate performances, balloon designs, riddle-solving speed, and quiz accuracy, with the team from Hannibal High School earning first place in the event, followed by Mexico High School in second place and Oswego High School rounding out with third.
Mexico High School won the overall OCAY League trophy for the season, earning the most points throughout the year to take the top prize.
Caitlin White, a Sandy Creek teacher who led the event, said, “The fourth and final event of the 2024-2025 OCAY League season challenged students to study contrasts, opposites, and balance across multiple mediums. It was a great ending to a competitive season. Congratulations to Mexico High School for being crowned League Champions!”
The OCAY League, organized by the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation (CiTi BOCES), offers high-achieving students from nine Oswego County school districts the opportunity to showcase academic and creative talents through a series of themed competitions held throughout the school year.
Mexico High School was the overall champion for the OCAY League season. Students pictured: Ian Bigelow, Anna Fox, Riley Gagnier, Jessica Hill, Cosette Laffan, Stefano Magro, Sarah Marsden, Angelina Nguyen-Truong, Kaden Perry, Samuel Warchol
Hannibal High School took first place in the final OCAY League event of the year. Students pictured: Alan Stupp, Maya Turaj, Zoey Turaj, Tyler Emmons, Meredith Wakefield, Sophia Salladin, Alison Griffin, Fridjof Busch, Cecelia Stone, Zackery Snyder
Mexico High School took second place at the fourth event. Students pictured: Ian Bigelow, Anna Fox, Riley Gagnier, Jessica Hill, Cosette Laffan, Stefano Magro, Sarah Marsden, Angelina Nguyen-Truong, Kaden Perry, Samuel Warchol
Oswego High School students captured third place at the OCAY League event. Students pictured: Amanda Connelly, Janessa Coronado, Alaina DiBlasi, Audrey Donovan, Leah Kelly, Leonard Lin, Aaron O’Brien, Maggie O’Leary, Grant Romanowski, Kevin Waters
