In The News

California State You Be The Chemist!® Challenge to Air May 27 at 8 p.m.

The California You Be The Chemist!® State Challenge event, which took place May 10 at the Discovery Science Center will be broadcast on May 27 at 8 p.m. on Cox Channel 3.

You Be The Chemist® (YBTC) is a national program of the Chemical Education Foundation (CEF) that brings together students, their teachers, and the chemical industry to improve science education and to raise the awareness of the science of chemistry.

"This event was the culmination of many months of hard work and fun for dozens of remarkable students who have been part of California's 2011 state You Be The Chemist!® program," says Jillian W. Cimo, Coast Southwest vice president and California YBTC co-organizer. "The Cox broadcast is an ideal opportunity to witness first-hand the confidence and competence of these amazing young people as they demonstrate how much science they learned."

Sixteen finalists from four schools participated in the California YBTC contest. Bethany Lutheran School in Long Beach was sponsored by Ross Organic Specialty Sales, Inc. Brea Junior High School in Brea was sponsored by ET Horn Company. St. Anthony School in San Gabriel was sponsored by Brenntag Pacific. St. Edward the Confessor Parish School in Dana Point was sponsored by Coast Southwest, Inc.

The winner of the California competition will vie with other state champions from across the country for the national title in the 2011 National YBTC Challenge in Philadelphia on June 20.

"From our corporate sponsors whose generous contributions funded this program, to the many teachers, parents, and volunteers who worked together to create momentum and a powerful learning environment, to the Discovery Science Center for hosting the event and Cox Television and Time Warner for televising it, many Californians joined together to say, yes chemistry is important to all of us, and yes, we will support an initiative that encourages our young people to recognize that science can indeed be fascinating and fun," Mrs. Cimo says.

"The evening was so thrilling and special," says Mrs. Fran Pijor, science instructor and YBTC school coordinator at St. Edward. "The Discovery Science Center was the perfect location, and I was so proud of all the students."

Each student in the California competition was recognized with a medal and Congressional Certificate of Honor. The winner of the competition is from Brea Junior High.

"When you ask young people what they want to be when they grow up," Mrs. Cimo says, "becoming a chemist might not ordinarily be something that too many of them think about, but this program really lights a fire. The enthusiasm from the kids after they've participated in YBTC is so exciting. The families and teachers were just amazed. I think even some of the kids surprised themselves. They just finished this year's program, and they are already talking about participating next year."