Los Alamos High School AP and Honors Chemistry student Karin Ebey is among more than 700 students nationwide to take the national qualifying exam for the annual Chemistry Olympiad Competition. Courtesy photo

Although schools in the country are not in session because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the American Chemical Society (ACS) U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad committee has decided to not cancel its annual competition and offer high school students the opportunity to take online Local and National exams.

Several Los Alamos High School AP and Honors Chemistry students took the online local exam April 19 and shortly after, the Central New Mexico chapter of the ACS announced the names of two outstanding students, Anthony Lestone and Karin Ebey, who then moved on to take Part I of the online National Exam April 26. Lestone received the highest score for the Central NM ACS. 

Lestone and Ebey were among more than 700 students nationwide who took the national qualifying exam. A small group of those students will be identified and invited to a virtual study camp and the top few will be chosen to represent the U.S. in the International Chemistry Olympiad competition (IChO), which this year will be a virtual one without a lab component.

The exact dates and formats of the virtual study camp and the IChO are being determined and are expected by early May.

The U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) program is a chemistry competition for high school students. The purpose of the competition is to stimulate young people to achieve excellence in chemistry. The American Chemical Society has sponsored the program since 1984. 

Founded in 1876 and chartered by Congress, the American Chemical Society is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of chemistry in the public interest serving nearly 150,000 members. The Central New Mexico section is one of 185 across the nation.