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

ARLINGTON, VA-March 8,— A 7th grade Illinois Valley student proved she really is a chemist in the making by winning a regional chemistry competition that quizzed contestants on important chemistry concepts, discoveries, and safety awareness facts.

Karen Luo of Peru - Washington Junior High School in Peru, IL has won the Illinois Valley You Be The Chemist Challenge competition. Created by the Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF), the Challenge is an academic question and answer competition that aims to engage 5-8 grade students in a dynamic event that partners members of the chemical industry with schools and organizations in the communities in which they operate.

The competition, held February 27 at the Seneca Middle School in Seneca, IL, brought together students from six schools in LaSalle and Grundy counties to compete for a $1,000 educational savings bond and other prizes. The Challenge was sponsored by Air Products & Chemicals and Carus Corporation of LaSalle, IL; Orica Nitrogen, Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry, and Aux Sable Liquids of Morris, IL; PQ Corporation of Utica, IL; and Huntsman Chemical of Peru, IL.

Pat Neff, Facilitator of Community Advisory Panels and co-organizer of the Illinois Valley contests stated: “After being the pilot group for the contest last year, it’s great to see how the competition has grown in scope and content. The kids did a great job and we are proud of all their hard work.” Lynn Solorio, Manager of Stakeholder Relations at Carus Corporation served as the other Challenge co-organizer.

Karen who won the competition on the 137th question will now represent the Illinois Valley area at the National You Be The Chemist Challenge, to be held on June 9 in Philadelphia, PA. Karen will compete against nine other students from around the country who have participated in local level Challenges similar to the competition in the Illinois Valley.

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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