High schoolers compete in Academy Olympiad

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Hammes
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Twenty students from across the country assembled at the Academy June 2 for the Chemistry Olympiad, an annual camp that prepares high school students in their junior and senior years to compete in a global chemistry competition.

"This is an amazing opportunity for these students to study at a very high level with others who are equally gifted," said Dr. Kim Gardner, associate professor in the chemistry department and camp director.  "In the area of chemistry, they are well beyond normal high school students and relish the challenge. I believe it is also a great opportunity to expose them to the Academy since few have any connection with the military. Generally, they walk away with a great deal of respect and appreciation for the job people here do."

The 20 students tested alongside 15,000 others in an initial test in March. The number was cut to 1,000, and then down to 20 after a second test. After arriving at the Academy, they compete to fill six slots - four will participate in the final competition and two will be alternates.

"During camp, the students take a series of exams and perform graded lab practicals," Gardner said. "The students did not see the scores until June 13, when the top six students were announced at an awards banquet. Those six stay for an additional four days and do more studying and testing to pick the top four that will represent the United States at the International Chemistry Olympiad competition."

Shre Kapoor, one of the 20 students, is a first-time participant in the Chemistry Olympiad.

"I've learned so much through the amazing abilities of my mentors," he said. "The common coverage of the classes is so much more advanced - it's college level, so you get a much deeper experience than in a regular chemistry class. I've taken an Organic Chemistry class and an AP Chemistry class at my local university, and this is still so much above and beyond that."

As most of the students are under 18 years of age, mentors live with them in the dorms at the Academy, providing guidance and encouragement.

"Because of the way the international law is written, you can only train the students for a maximum of two weeks before the competition," said Dr. Kelli Slunt, head mentor and a professor of chemistry at the University of Mary Washington. "This gives us flexibility to do that, but in this environment you need adults to be with the kids 24-7, to live in the dorms with them. So the mentors need to be well-rounded - they need to be good at chemistry, good at parenting and good at bringing them to the right places."

The four competitors and two alternates will compete in the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad July 20 in Baku, Azerbaijan.