Team USA Selected for Premier International Biology Olympiad National Finals Held at Purdue University

In 2002, the Center developed and implemented the first-ever USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) to train future leaders in the biological sciences. The USABO is jointly sponsored with Purdue University. This program concentrates on stimulating young scholars’ intellectual curiosity and developing their critical thinking skills in biological reasoning, and culminates with the U.S. Team’s participation in the International Biology Olympiad.

McLean, VA, June 22, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Four top scoring students earned gold medals at the Center for Excellence in Education’s USA Biology Olympiad National Finals which took place at Purdue University. These students will represent the United States as Team USA at the 2012 International Biology Olympiad (IBO) in Singapore in July.

Team USA 2012 Gold Medalists:
· Nikhil Buduma, Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, CA
· Lei Ding, The Charter School of Wilmington, DE
· Jing Liu, Mission San Jose High School, Fremont, CA
· Kevin Ma, East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, NJ

Buduma, Ding, Liu, and Ma were awarded gold medals based on their theoretical and laboratory scores during the 10th Annual USA Biology Olympiad National Finals.

"It is with great pride the Center for Excellence in Education will send 4 accomplished young scholars, Team USA 2012, to represent the United States at the International Biology Olympiad,” said Joann DiGennaro, President, Center for Excellence in Education. “CEE never ceases to be amazed by the academic prowess that is exuded during the USABO National Finals at Purdue University.”

Team USA 2012 will compete at the IBO from July 8-15. They will be accompanied by Coaches Kathy Frame of CEE and Dr. Clark Gedney of Purdue University. They will travel as guests of Korean Air, the official Airline of the USA Biology Olympiad.

USABO 2012 Silver medalist are David Hao, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, Denton, TX; Bryce Hwang, Foothill High School, Pleasanton, CA; Ray Wang, Holmdel High School, Holmdel, New Jersey; Yuqing Zhang, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Alexandria, VA.

Awarded USABO bronze medals are Owen Gray, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Alexandria, VA; James Ha, Punahou, Honolulu, HI: Andrew Jiang, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Alexandria, VA; andSiddharth Trehan, Mira Loma High School, Sacramento, CA.
Finals for the top 20 students were held for the third year at Purdue from June 3-15.

Representing eight states, the students were chosen from nearly 10,500 students as demonstrated by their scores on the USA Biology Olympiad open and semifinal exams.

During their two weeks at Purdue, the finalists participated in intensive theoretical and practical tutorials, working with experts in the fields of cellular biology, microbiology, biotechnology, plant anatomy and physiology, animal anatomy and physiology, ethology, genetics and evolution, ecology, and biosystematics. The students were led by professors from Purdue University, Princeton University, Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Indiana University.

All Team USA Members have medaled since the United States first began competing at the IBO in 2003, garnering a total of 27 gold, 7 silver and 2 bronze medals. At the IBO in Taiwan last year, Team USA 2011 brought home 4 Gold Medals, was named #1 Team in the World, and a U.S. team member received the #1 Individual Score in the World.

The USA Biology Olympiad is jointly sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in McLean, Virginia and Purdue University.
Contact
Center for Excellence in Education (CEE)
Maureen Palmer
703-448-9062
www.cee.org
Joann DiGennaro
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