Local Middle Schoolers Compete in "You be the Chemist Challenge"

On April 11th, local students came to James Madison University to compete in the You be the Chemist Challenge, a national academic competition. The challenge is an individual competition open to 5th - 8th graders and covers topics in chemistry, including real world applications. The event is developed by the Chemical Education Foundation, was sponsored locally by Merck and JMU's Outreach and Engagement, and was staffed and judged by student volunteers. Jonathan Wang, a 7^th grader from Elkton Middle School, won the local challenge and will represent the Shenandoah Valley at the state-wide competition in Suffolk on April 25th.

Judges and winners pictured above:

Back row, left to right: Yasmin Shahkarami, Brittany Wilson, Dr. Iona Black, Joseph Whetzel, Seth Kiem, Noah Pope, Esther Kim, Monica Maneru

Front row, left to right: Katie Lapira, Era Shehu, Jonathan Wang

Student volunteers pictured above, left to right: Miriam Molini, Nur Shahkarami, Jesmine Roberts-Torres Grace Cho and Suzhen Zhang.

Participants working hard on the challenge!