Scarsdale Student To Serve As Alternate On U.S. International Chemistry Team

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, a graduate of the Class of 2012 at Scarsdale High School, will serve as an alternate team member for the U.S. at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO).

He will be one of two alternates for the U.S. team, which will compete with teams from more than 70 other countries for gold, silver and bronze medals at the University of Maryland, College Park, from July 21-30. The American Chemical Society (ACS) is the official organizer and The Dow Chemical Company is the official sponsor of the event.

To see Andrew’s reaction to being selected as one of the top six chemistry students in the country and his impressions of the Olympiad, click on the above links. 

Competition for the U.S. team was intense. It started last spring when more than 14,000 chemistry students took a rigorous exam in schools across the country, and then about 1,000 of them moved on to take the national exam for the chemistry Olympiad. The 20 students with the highest scores went to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., to attend an intensive study camp where they competed with one another for a spot on the U.S. IChO Team.  Last night, four students were selected as team members and two as alternates.      

“This year is especially important to the team because, for only the second time in IChO history, the Olympiad will be held in the U.S.,” said ACS president Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, Ph.D.  “It’s a great honor for us to be the host country for this Olympics of the mind, especially at a time when a scientifically-trained work force is so critical to our future.  We also appreciate the U.S. Senate demonstrating the importance of this Olympiad by passing, with unanimous consent, Senate Resolution 491 recognizing the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad.” 

Watch it on CSPAN.