Chemistry Olympiad

    The 2009 Chemistry Olympiad was very successful. I sent letters to 267 high school chemistry teachers in our Section; 14 schools participated with about 125 students taking the preliminary exam. The schools were both public and private and extended from Menlo Park to Gilroy.  The teachers graded the exams and 17 students were chosen to participate in the national exam. The Section is allotted 18 spaces, but most students did not score quite high enough to be invited.  The consensus of the committee is to not overwhelm the students when they are borderline, but to encourage them to participate next year.

    Our section hosted the students from the California Section for a day of testing at Santa Clara University (SCU). Dr. Linda Bruneaur oversaw the laboratory work.  She thought the preparation went smoothly. The students and proctors enjoyed a pizza lunch.  SCU students gave the high school students a tour of the campus.

    The national exam date did not conflict with the high school Spring break in April, 2009, as it has in the past.
   
    Again this year,  the teachers were invited to our Summer wine tasting and awards picnic to show our appreciation for their hard work.  Three teachers attended.

                                                                             Sally Peters,
                                                                             Chair, Chemistry Olympiad Committee
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