MARS, PETERS AND NORTH ALLEGHENY HIGH SCHOOLS WIN CHEMISTRY OLYMPICS AT PITT

PITTSBURGH, May 20 -- Mars, Peters Township and North Allegheny high schools won first place in their respective divisions in the 20th annual Pittsburgh Chemistry Olympics at the University of Pittsburgh last week.

Mars Area High School won in Category I, composed of first year chemistry students who conducted experiments in environmental chemistry and quantitative analysis. Teacher Rebecca Winek supervised Mars' team of Paul Fey, Amanda Leonberg and Caitlyn Hudac. Gateway High School and Kiski Area High School finished in second and third place, respectively. Honorable mentions for Category I included Fox Chapel High School, Shady Side Academy and Highlands High School.

In Category II, composed of second year chemistry students, the Peters Township team of Brian O'Kelly, John Yakubic and Ryan Flanigan won first place for their experiments in water chemistry and elemental chemistry. Peters Township's team was led by teacher Walter Jennings. North Allegheny and Kiski Area High School finished in second and third place, respectively, in Category II. Fox Chapel High School, Taylor Allderdice High School and Frazier High School won honorable mentions.

North Allegheny High School won Category III, composed of organic chemistry students. Students Jackie Iera, Adam Miller and Chris Garmer were led by teacher Charles Sabatos. Taylor Allderdice High School came in second and Penn Trafford High School finished in third place. Belle Vernon High School won an honorable mention.

The 20th annual Chemistry Olympics, sponsored by the Pittsburgh American Chemical Society Chemical Education Group and Pitt's Department of Chemistry, featured 97 student teams from 45 area high schools.

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