FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | June 17, 2010

Md., N.Y., Conn., N. J. and Calif. students named to U.S. team for International Chemistry Olympiad

  • A student from your locale may have been chosen. Please check list below.

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2010 — Four students from high schools in Maryland, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey will represent the United States in the 42nd annual International Chemistry Olympiad, the American Chemical Society (ACS) announced today. The international competition will be held July 19-28 in Tokyo, Japan.

ACS, the world’s largest scientific society, sponsors the U.S. team with support from other partners. The four members of the travel team and two alternates were chosen after a nine-day study and training camp for 20 of the nation’s top chemistry students at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. They were selected from more than 11,000 high school students across the country who initially competed for a spot on the U.S. team.

The four U.S. team members are:

Richard Li, Clarksville, Md., River Hill High School
Colin Lu, Vestal, N.Y., Vestal High School
Alexander Siegenfeld, Westport, Conn., Hopkins School
Utsarga Sikder, Monmouth Junction, N.J., South Brunswick High School

Lu also served on the U.S. team for the International Chemistry Olympiad in 2009, winning a silver medal.

Two alternates were also named, in case a member of the team is unable to participate. They are:

Joe Tung, Cerritos, Calif., Gretchen Whitney High School (first alternate)
Kevin Yan, North Potomac, Md., Wootton High School (second alternate)

“ACS is proud to announce the U.S. team members who will represent our nation at the International Chemistry Olympiad in Tokyo in July,” said ACS President Joseph S. Francisco, Ph.D. “These young men possess outstanding scientific talent, and will lead our future in scientific discovery and innovation. As the world prepares to celebrate the International Year of Chemistry in 2011, I couldn’t be more pleased with the caliber of these individuals – they reflect the best of this country.”

The U.S. team will go up against teams from more than 65 countries. In past Olympiads, the U.S. team has been a strong competitor at the international event. In 2009, the U.S. team won a gold medal and three silver medals. In 2008, the team won one silver and three bronze medals. In 1999 and 2000, the U.S. team won gold medals.

The American Chemical Society has sponsored the American team annually since the U.S. joined the Olympiad. Principal funding is through the ACS’ Othmer Olympiad Endowment with additional support from the Air Force Academy; Advanced Chemistry Development; Carolina Biological Supply Company; Fisher Scientific; Flinn Scientific, Inc; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; McGraw-Hill Companies; Merck Publishing Group; Pearson Prentice Hall; Texas Instruments, Inc.; University Science Books; Sigma Aldrich Co.; and Sorbent Technologies.

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Rachael Bishop

202-872-4445