Dear Chemistry Teachers,

The Education Committee of the Central Wisconsin Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) is pleased to announce that we will be participating in the 1998 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO). The primary goals of this program are to stimulate interest and achievement in chemistry among high school students throughout the United States and to provide recognition of outstanding young chemistry students, teachers and schools.

Students competing in the USNCO are eligible to be selected as members of the United States team for the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO). Twenty students will be identified by the national examination committee and will be invited to participate in a two week study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from June 7-21, 1998. For the past thirteen years the U.S. has sent a team of four students to compete in both theoretical and laboratory examinations over several days. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to the best performers and the IChO provides students the opportunity to interact with their peers from other countries. This year the international event will be held in Melbourne, Australia, July 5-14, 1998.

My immediate task is to encourage you and your students to participate in this program. The identification of the four member U.S. team begins at the local school system level. It is the responsibility of the Education Committee of the Central Wisconsin Section of the ACS to nominate 8 outstanding students from the area to take the USNCO national examination. In order to identify these students, we will be conducting a preliminary screening of students through a local standardized examination.

This local examination will consist of 50 multiple choice questions and will be administered by you in one 60 minute period. This local examination will be available from me as chairman of the Section Education Committee. There is no cost to your school for administering or grading the examination. Return the enclosed postcard by March 20 indicating the number of tests you require. Security on this exam is of the utmost importance. To insure proper security, we hope you will schedule only one examination period. Tests will be sent out March 23. They must be administered and returned to me, uncorrected, by April 8.

The top 8 students (as determined by the local exam) will be notified by April 10 and invited to take the national exam. This exam will take place on the morning of April 25, 1998 at UW-Stevens Point. The exam consists of three parts; multiple choice, essay and laboratory practical, and lasts approximately five hours. The national exam is then mailed directly to the ACS for grading.

In addition to qualifying for the national exam, the top 8 students are the nominees for the Outstanding High School Student Award given to a graduating senior at the annual banquet. If you and your students are interested in the Chemistry Olympiad, please complete, affix postage and return the enclosed card by March 20. Any questions should be addressed to me: