Students win trophy in chemistry competition
Congratulations to the High School's Chemistry Olympiad team on bringing home a third place trophy at the statewide competition and to Jacob Rothman '23 and Isaac Spiller '24 who qualified for the national competition.
By George Flatau, High School Science Teacher
Rather than coast their way into Spring Break, eight intrepid students traveled to Tennessee Tech University to take part in the American Chemical Society’s Chemistry Olympiad on Friday, March 10.
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Rather than coast their way into Spring Break, eight intrepid students traveled to Tennessee Tech University to take part in the American Chemical Society’s Chemistry Olympiad on Friday, March 10.
The competition consisted of a challenging multiple choice test and two team laboratory experiments, one of which was a mystery that students could not prepare for in advance.
This year’s event was the largest since 2019, featuring local stalwarts Montgomery Bell Academy, Ravenwood High School, Franklin High School, and Independence High School, among others including a few strong schools from Kentucky. University School of Nashville's students were undeterred, though wowed by the presence of GOAT — greatest of all time — Advanced Placement video presenter Dena Leggett from Franklin (there may have been some formula sheets autographed).
USN students were randomly divided into two 4-person teams. Jacob Rothman '23, Henry Wykoff '24, Maddie Ewing '24, and Cole Patterson '24 made up Team 1, while Caroline Quinones '24, Xavier Warren '24, Isaac Spiller '24, and Laney Drew Hirt '24 made up Team 2. Performance on the written test and the laboratory experiments were combined to determine the teams' final scores.
Students got to work, undaunted by a challenging test. A lunch break allowed them to refuel and decompress, then they split up and began experimenting with one group titrating and the other thermally decomposing a chlorate.
USN's students hustled home before results were tallied, as Spring Break commitments beckoned. While en route to Edgehill, we received word that Team 1 finished third overall earning a trophy behind two strong Ravenwood teams. And, when official results were released, it was revealed that Team 2 finished close behind in fifth.
Individually, both Jacob and Isaac finished in the top 10 and thus qualified for the national level of competition in April.
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Edgehill Campus
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Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
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2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.