As chairperson of the Ames Local Section of the American Chemical
Society (ACS), I am pleased to announce that we will be participating
in the 1997 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO). The
primary goals of this program are to stimulate interest and
achievement in chemistry among high school students throughout the
United States and to provide recognition of outstanding young
chemistry students, teachers, and schools.
Students competing in the USNCO are eligible to be selected as
members of the United States team for the International Chemistry
Olympiad (IChO). For the past eleven years the U.S. has sent a team
of four students to compete with nations around the world at the
IChO. The students participate in both theoretical and laboratory
examinations over several days. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are
awarded to the best performers and the IChO provides students the
opportunity to interact with their peers from other countries. The
1997 international event will be held in Montreal, Canada on July
13-23, 1997.
My immediate task is to encourage you and your students to
participate in the program. The identification of the four-member
U.S. team begins at the local school system level. It is the
responsibility of the Ames Local Section to nominate students from
this area to take the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad examination.
In order to identify these students, we have decided to conduct a
preliminary screening of students. All interested teachers will be
sent a chemistry exam which will is to be taken at the individual
schools around the end of March. The exam is multiple choice; the
recommended time for the exam is 110 minutes. A sample exam is
available upon request. Returned exams will be graded, and the top
eight students from this area will be invited to come to Iowa State
University to take the National Exam on Saturday April 26, 1997.
Please note that those invited to take the National Exam must be U.S.
Citizens. No more than 2 students will be invited from any one
school.
Dan Gregory has been appointed the U.S. National Chemistry
Olympiad Coordinator for this area. You may contact him with any
questions at 3801 Gilman Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011,
(515) 294-3492. His email address is dgregroy@iastate.edu. We
encourage you to enter students from your school in the competition
by completing and returning the enclosed registration form before
February 24, 1997. Thank you for helping us promote chemical
education in this country.
Cynthia Jenks
January 22, 1997
Name _______________________________
School _______________________________
Address ______________________________
_____________________________________
Phone _______________________________
Email _______________________________
_____ Yes, my chemistry class will participate in the local chemistry
Olympiad exam. Please send me the exam and more information.
_____ My chemistry class will not participate in the local chemistry
Olympiad exam.
Please return form by
February 24, 1997, to:
Dan
Gregory
Secretary/Treasurer
Ames Section, ACS
3801 Gilman Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
(515) 294-3492