High School Awards
The Dayton Section celebrates top-flight work by chemistry students at the high school level through a number of awards that are given.
US National Chemistry Olympiad Local Competition and Patterson High School Chemistry Award
Originally established by Charles A. Thomas and Caroll A. Hochwalt, former Dayton chemists and Monsanto researchers, the top chemistry students in the area have been recognized under the auspices of the Dayton Section since 1943. In 1990, the family of the late Austin M. Patterson, also a prominent Dayton chemist, assumed sponsorship.
All area high school students were invited to take an examination. The ten highest scoring applicants and the highest scorers at each High School are then invited to write essays, which form the basis of the final judging. The top ten finalists, although only two from each school, are also invited to take the Chemistry Olympiad Exam. In addition, teachers of the prizewinners receive $50 awards, and the top scoring student from each high school is awarded a plaque. Grading was performed separately for those students who have only taken one year of chemistry. Students from this group who were the highest scorers in their High School will also receive a plaque. The top three essayists are awarded first, second, and third prizes of $1000, $750, and $500, respectively.
This year’s Patterson Scholars, their High Schools (and their teachers) are:
| Name | School | Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Yin | Centerville High School | Julie Summers |
| Shriya Rangaswamy* | Centerville High School | Julie Summers |
| Nobel Zhou* | Sidney High School | Ebenezer Blay |
| Tiffany Huang* | Beavercreek High School | Tejinder Rattan |
| Kyle Lethanderr* | Oakwood High School | Tony Rainsburger |
| Anna Yang | Beavercreek High School | Tejinder Rattan |
| David Cai* | Oakwood High School | Tony Rainsburger |
| Mitchell Bonnano* | Alter High School | Heidi Cuticchia |
| Sam Henne* | Northmont High School | |
| Grant Spangler*(1) | Anna High School | Vicki Quinter |
| William Zhang* | Centerville High School | Julie Summers |
| Josph Ritze* | Lehman Catholic High School | Ginny Scherer |
| Jerrick Liu | Centerville High School | Julie Summers |
| Luke Lunday | Beavercreek High School | Kristine McDaniel |
| Nikhil Vijai | Centerville High School | Julie Summers |
Students marked with * qualified to participate in the US National Chemistry Olympiad National Examination; students marked with (1) are first year chemistry students.
Award Ceremony
The award ceremony will be held Wednesday, June 22nd, 2019 at Room 150, Science Center, University of Dayton (campus map)
- 5:30 – 6:15: Social (food and drink provided)
- 6:15 – 6:30: Keynote: Dr. Melinda Greer (Dayton Section Volunteer of the Year)
- 6:30 – 7:00: Award Ceremony
For more details regarding the Patterson High School Chemistry Competition or the Chemistry Olympiad, please contact Dr. Weijie Lu, our Olympiad Coordinator.
