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U.S. high school finalists announced for International Chemistry Olympiad team

Twenty of the nation's top high school chemistry students, representing 12 states, will vie for a spot on the U.S. team in the 33rd annual International Chemistry Olympiad in Mumbai, India, July 6-15. Sponsored by the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, the U.S. team has been a strong competitor at the international event. Members of the American team have won the top gold medal at the Olympiad each of the last two years. The 1999 U.S. team garnered "best in the world" status with three gold medals - including the top gold - and one silver.

Eighteen boys and two girls, chosen from a pool of nearly 10,000 high school students nationwide, will spend June 3-17 preparing at a study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. During the two week camp, the students will receive college-level training, with an emphasis on organic chemistry, through a series of lectures, problem-solving exercises, lab work and testing. At the conclusion, a four-member U.S. team will be named to participate in the international contest with teams from more than 50 other countries. Each country sends four contestants and two coaches to the host country for seven to ten days of exams, lectures, recreation and tours.

Mentors in the sciences and professors at the U.S. Air Force Academy conduct the majority of laboratory and classroom instruction at the study camp. "These kids are the brightest among the bright and are tomorrow's scientific leaders," said Nadine Szcaepanski, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at MacMurray College and head mentor for the Olympiad team. "It is difficult to narrow down to four students when all are so intelligent, so we must consider those who exude a spirit of cooperation and competition."

The International Chemistry Olympiad originated with Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary in 1968. Soon, other eastern European countries joined the event, and western Europe began participating in 1974. The first U.S. team competed in 1984, winning one silver and two bronze medals.

The American Chemical Society has sponsored the American team annually since the U.S. joined the Olympiad. Principal funding is through the Society's Othmer Olympiad Endowment, with additional support from the U.S. Air Force Academy, IBM Research, Merck Publishing Group, Texas Instruments, Inc., W.H. Freeman & Company, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., Advanced Chemistry Development and Harcourt College Publishers.

The 20 U.S. finalists who will participate in this year's study camp are:

STATE, CITY	NAME	HIGH SCHOOL
Calif., Diamond Bar	Ziyad Jabaji*	Troy High School
Calif., Sherman Oaks	Jeff Zira*	North Hollywood High School
Ill., Skokie	Alexander Makedonski	West Niles Township High School
Ind., Terre Haute	Andrew Chi*	Terre Haute South Vigo High School
Mass., Acton	Orr Ashenberg	Acton-Boxborough High School
Mass., Wayland	Eric Hoke	Wayland High School
Mass., Wayland	Colin Whittaker	Wayland High School
Mich., Novi	Jessica Zhou*	Novi High School
Mich., Troy	Daniel Schmidt	Troy High School
N.Y., East Amherst	William Lin	Williamsville East High School
N.Y., Rochester	Binghai Ling*	Brighton High School
N.Y., Roslyn Heights	Jordan Rubinstein*	Roslyn High School
Okla., Tulsa	Jonathan Choi	Oklahoma School of Science & Math
Okla., Tulsa	Collin Martin	Oklahoma School of Science & Math
Ohio, Cincinnati	Daniel Cissell	Walnut Hills High School
Pa., Macungie	James Solomon*	Emmaus High School
Tenn., Signal Mountain	Sean Keprowski*	Baylor High School
Texas, Bellaire	Victor Hu	Bellaire High School
Texas, Houston	Albert Wang*	Bellaire High School
Va., McLean	Monika Schleier-Smith	Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology

*student participated in last year's study camp

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