High school students win gold at Biology Competition

Black Issues in Higher Education, August 12, 2004

VIENNA, VA.

In an unprecedented feat of accomplishment in the 15 years of the International Biology Olympiad Competition, the U.S. team, comprised of four high school students, brought home four gold medals.

The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is the annual World Championship Biology Competition for high school students. The USA Biology Olympiad, which is sponsored by the Virginia-based Center for Excellence in Education, and the IBO award individual achievement in theoretical and practical biology knowledge.

This is the second year of U.S. participation in the international competition. Approximately 160 students representing 40 countries competed in this rigorous competition in Australia.

The gold medalists are:

* Kay Aull, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Va.

* Brad Hargreaves, Caddo Parish Magnet High School, Shreveport, La.

* Clinton Hansen, Oneida High School, Oneida, N.Y.

* ZeNan Chang, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, Calif.

"We are delighted at the performance of the U.S. students," says Joann DiGennaro, president of the Center for Excellence in Education. "The competition was very intense, and our U.S. team performed beyond our expectations. Bringing home four gold medals attests to the strength and success of the training of this nation's best and brightest."