UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH HOSTS ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY OLYMPICS

PITTSBURGH, May 4 -- One hundred and thirteen teams from 50 area high schools--339 students--will participate in the 19th Chemistry Olympics to be held on Wednesday, May 6 in the University of Pittsburgh's Chevron Science Center, 219 Parkman, Ave., Oakland.

Co-sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Chemistry Department and the Pittsburgh American Chemical Society (ACS) Chemical Education Group, the event will involve competitions in three categories. Teams of three students will be scored on their ability to complete experiments accurately and to answer key questions on the results from their work. First, second, third, and honorable mention prizes will be awarded in each category. Lab competitions will take place Wednesday morning; prizes will be awarded in afternoon ceremonies (at approximately 3 p.m.) in the Chemistry Department's Ashe Auditorium.

Schools to be represented include: Avonworth High School , Beaver Area High School, Belle Vernon High School, Brooke High School, Central Catholic High School, Central Cambria High School, Chartiers Houston High School, Conneaut Lake High School, Conneaut Valley High School, Ellis School, Fox Chapel High School, Franklin Regional High School, Frazier High School, Gateway High School, Greensburg Central Catholic, Highlands High School, Holy Ghost Preparatory School, Indiana High School, Kiski Area High School, Laurel Highlands High School, Ligonier Valley High School, Linesville High School, Mars Area High School, McGuffey High School, Montour High School, Moon Area High School, North Allegheny High School, Oakland Catholic High School, Penn Hills High School, Penn Cambria High School, Penn-Trafford High School, Perry Academy, Peters Township High School, Pine-Richland High School, Quaker Valley High School, Ringgold High School, Riverview High School, Schenley High School, Seton LaSalle High School, Sewickley Academy, Shade Central, Shady Side Academy, South Park High School, Steel Valley High School, Taylor Allderdice High School, Upper St. Clair High School, Valley High School, Vincentian High School, Weir High School, West Mifflin High School and Woodland Hills High School.

In addition to the Pittsburgh ACS-Chemical Education Group and the University of Pittsburgh Chemistry Department, support for the event comes from the Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh, the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, the Bayer Foundation, Mr. Loren Holmes and Fisher Scientific.

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