Student To Represent Greater Cleveland At State Chemistry Competition

Cleveland, OH –March 13, 2019 – Alicia Ge, an eighth-grader from Lee Burneson Middle School, Westlake, OH, won a Cleveland-wide chemistry competition and was declared the Greater Cleveland You Be The Chemist Challenge® Champion. After answering dozens of chemistry and general science questions over multiple rounds of competition, she bested a field of 29 fifth- to eighth-grade students to earn a spot at the state-level competition. The winner of the Ohio State Challenge will receive an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Challenge.

Run by the Chemical Educational Foundation® (CEF), the You Be The Chemist Challenge® is an exciting competition that encourages students in grades 5-8 to engage with chemistry concepts and their real-world applications. The Challenge fosters connections between industry, educators, and community members to celebrate outstanding young learners and inspire them to pursue STEM careers. Students compete individually by answering multiple-choice questions to advance through a series of competition levels, beginning at their school and culminating on the national stage. At the National Challenge in June, state champions from across the country will receive national recognition and compete for college scholarships.

The 2019 Greater Cleveland Challenge was held at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, OH and was sponsored by Palmer Holland, Inc. The Ohio State Challenge will also be held at the Great Lakes Science Center on Saturday, April 27, 2019. Yikun Zhou, Antonio Gojevic, Finley Pasatta, Livia Kola, and Benjamin Hewitt also qualified to compete at the state level. The top three finalists were awarded passes to the Great Lakes Science Center.

“Competing in the Challenge requires participants to ask tough questions, think creatively, and solve problems. We hope that every student who participated is proud of what they accomplished and continues to believe in their ability to change the world around them through science,” said CEF Executive Director Dwayne Sattler. “To the students moving on to the next level of the Challenge, congratulations! Each year we are amazed by the intelligence, poise, and dedication of the young people who compete at the national level. We can’t wait to see what future STEM leaders this year has in store.”

To learn more about CEF and the You Be The Chemist Challenge®, visit us at www.chemed.org. 

About the Chemical Educational Foundation®
The Chemical Educational Foundation® (CEF) is a nonprofit dedicated to building the excitement and value of chemistry and STEM careers with K-8 students through accessible science programs and hands-on experiences. CEF partners with educators, industry, and community members to inspire today’s students to become tomorrow’s thinkers, innovators, and STEM leaders.