News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Laurel Brent, 703/527-6223
lbrent@chemed.org

ARLINGTON, VA-June 12— Students from across the country proved that they are “chemists in the making” as they participated in a competition that tests their knowledge in chemistry concepts, discoveries, and chemical safety awareness tips.

Seven students competed for the title of the National You Be The Chemist Challenge (YBTCC) champion. The academic competition created by the Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF) is a question and answer event that is open to sixth through eighth graders nationwide.

Karen Luo, a seventh grader from Peru-Washington Junior High School in Peru, IL, won the competition. To qualify for the national competition, Karen previously won the Illinois Valley regional YBTCC championship, which was sponsored locally by Air Products and Chemicals of LaSalle, Carus Corporation of LaSalle/Peru, Huntsman Chemical of Peru, and the PQ Corporation of Utica.

Rachel Sutterley, an eighth grader at Stuart Pepper Middle School in Brandenburg, KY, and Jasmine Hamilton, an eighth grader at Apollo Middle School in Rochester, NY, came in second and third places, respectively.

Held June 9 at the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia, PA, the YBTCC is an exciting educational event that aims to partner chemical companies with schools in their local community. “This is only the second year of the YBTC Challenge and we are extremely encouraged by the growth we’ve seen since last year,” stated John Rice, CEF Managing Director. “We had a field of extremely bright contestants and their efforts should be highly applauded!”

Other participants were Aidan Blum, a sixth grader at L’Anse Creuse Middle School East in Chesterfield, MI; Dan Clausen, an eighth grader at Friendship Junior High School in Des Plaines, IL; Sarah Ellison, an eighth grader at St. Mary’s Elementary School in Mt. Clemons, MI; and Elena Ray, a sixth grader at Cypress Christian School in Houston, TX. All contestants won local level YBTC Challenges during the past year.

The event was sponsored by AIG Environmental of New York, NY, a division of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). “The YBTC Challenge is a great community outreach tool. AIG Environmental is excited to be part of an event that can so positively impact our chemical industry clients and the communities in which they operate,” stated Darin Winick, Association Program Manager, AIG Enivornmental. Mr. Winick also
served as one of three judges of the competition. Lynn Solorio, Manager of Stakeholder Communications at Carus Corporation, and Laurel Brent, Education Outreach Coordinator for the Chemical Educational Foundation, also served as national judges.

First, second, and third place winners received educational savings bonds, and all contestants received gift certificates to the Discovery Channel Store, CHEMC1000 Chemistry Kits, and fun YBTCC apparel. While in Philadelphia the students also visited the Franklin Institute of Science.

The 2006 -2007 Challenge will kick-off in September.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Arlington, VA, the Chemical Educational Foundation is dedicated to fostering a greater understanding of the science of chemistry, the benefits of chemicals, and the importance of chemical safety awareness.

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