Chemistry Olympiad

The Chemical Society of Washington has participated in the US National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) every year since 1984 when the American Chemical Society (ACS) first began this Olympiad for the United States. Each ACS section that participates is responsible for giving the USNCO examination in its area and for selecting the area high school students who will take this examination. The number of students allotted to each section depends upon its membership count; the CSW is allotted 18 students with a maximum of two students per school. The CSW selects its students from nominations submitted by high school chemistry teachers. Letters asking for nominations are sent to the Chemistry Departments of all area high schools in the February – March time frame each year.

The exam consists of two written theoretical sections and a one-hour laboratory practical for a total of four and 1/2 hours. Since 1993 when the laboratory practical was introduced, the Chemistry Department of American University has graciously been the site for the CSW exam. Since 1997 the Science Department of the Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, Maryland, has provided a second exam site on the Maryland Eastern Shore.

1998 Chemistry Olympiad for High School Students

The year of 1998 marked the Fifteenth US National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) and the 30th International Chemistry Olympiad (ICO). In March 1998 letters seeking nominations of students were sent to chemistry teachers at about 200 area high schools. Of the fourteen students who sat for the exam, ten students were from six Maryland schools and four students were from two Virginia schools. The names of these students, their chemistry teachers and their high schools are as follows.

The CSW held the USNCO examination at Chesapeake College on Friday, April 24 and at American University on Saturday, April 25. During April 23-26, 147 ACS sections administered this exam to nearly 900 students across the country. The twenty students who scored the highest on the exam were invited to the study camp held June 7-21 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado; the four student US team was selected at the study camp to participate in the International Chemistry Olympiad at Melbourne, Australia, during July 5-14. From the CSW two students were selected to attend the Study Camp; they were Salim Ahmed and Paul Bracher; both from the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

SPECIAL THANKS!!!

Very special thanks to the following for their help with the CSW Chemistry Olympiad.

From American University: Dr. Nina Roscher, Chairwoman of the Chemistry Department, for providing one of the exam sites; Dr. Fred Carson, Chemistry Professor at American University, for making the necessary arrangements; Mrs. Marie Matteny for her hours of work in setting up the laboratory and her enthusiasm she brings to the students at the laboratory practical.

From Chesapeake College: Dr. Florence Lednum, Chair of the Science Department, for providing one of the exam sites and making the necessary arrangements; Christina Andrews for her work in setting up the lecture and laboratory rooms and helping to proctor the exam; Marvin Rickman for his help in proctoring the exam.

Dr. John Garner for helping proctor the exam at American U.

1999 Chemistry Olympiad

The CSW will participate in the 1999 Chemistry Olympiad. In February, letters will be sent to the area high schools asking for student nominations.

Tentative Letter To Be Sent to Chemistry Departments of High Schools:

February 1, 1999

Dear Chemistry Instructor:

For the sixteenth year, the American Chemical Society (ACS) is conducting a U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) for high school students. ACS Local Sections have been invited to nominate outstanding local students to participate in a national competition to select a team to represent the United States in the 31th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, July 4-11, 1999. Approximately 55 other nations will also participate in the IChO.

The Chemical Society of Washington (CSW), the Washington Area Local Section of ACS, is now soliciting these nominations. A maximum of two students per high school may be nominated. The nominees must be U.S. citizens and must have been born after July 31, 1979. Eighteen (18) students will be selected to take the National Examination based on CSW’s evaluation of your letters of nomination and supporting material.

We ask that the letter of nomination include comments about the student’s (1) reasoning and problem solving abilities, (2) initiative, (3) creativity, (4) laboratory skills, (5) interest in chemistry, (6) academic achievements, and (7) participation in science projects and/or competitions. Please make the letter as complete as possible, and include any supporting material; also, please include your home telephone number and the student’s graduation year, home address, and home telephone number. Deadline for receipt of nominations is Saturday, March 13th. As soon as we receive them, we will send you copies of the 1998 National Olympiad Examination. You will be notified by March 24th, if your student(s) has been selected to take the National Examination. The students selected must take the National Examination. If your student(s) can not attend the examination, please notify us so that we may select an alternate(s). Students are only eligible to attend one of the three Olympiad Training Camps—Chemistry, Physics, or Math—in any given year. Please see that they plan accordingly.

The examination may be taken at Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, MD on Friday April 23, 1999 or at American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC in Beeghly Hall (the Chemistry Building) on Saturday April 24, 1999. Please indicate where your student(s) wants to take the examination. It is important that students arrive by 8:30 A.M. to complete the Olympiad paperwork. A continental breakfast will be provided. The examination will start promptly at 9 A.M. The day will consist of the first written exam (multiple choice) lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes, the 1 hour and 15 minutes laboratory practical, lunch (CSW provides sandwiches and drinks; if a student is vegetarian, please let us know), and the second written exam (problem solving and essays) of 1 hour and 45 minutes. We expect to be done between 2:30 P.M. and 3:00 P.M.

The results of the National Examination will be announced by the ACS on May 7th. The nation’s top twenty students will be invited to attend the study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 6-20, 1999 to prepare for the IChO. The study camp participants must be present for the entire camp: they may not arrive late, leave early, or be excused from any day. Four of these top twenty students will be selected as the U.S. team to participate in the IChO in Bangkok, Thailand. Adult mentors will accompany the students. The IChO is two days of exams. Sports, tours, and lectures occupy the students’ remaining time.

We look forward to receiving the nomination(s) of your outstanding student(s).

Sincerely,