Three Valley View Students Qualify for National Chemistry Olympiad

Three Valley View School District 365U students have qualified for the American Chemical Society's National Chemistry Olympiad. 

Cole Brooker and Will Caron attend Romeoville High School. Suraj “Neil” Sheth, attends Bolingbrook High School. 

All three students qualified by registering outstanding scores at the regional competition March 22 at Lewis University. High School students from the Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall, La Salle and Will counties competed for 10 national spots at the regional test.

“Both Will and Cole were required to push beyond the Honors Chemistry curriculum, staying late at school for additional tutoring to meet this success,” said Patrick Holden, the students’ chemistry teacher. 

“This achievement is truly a testament to all of the additional hours of preparation these students committed to.” 

In addition to competing in the upcoming national exam, Brooker and Caron will compete in the Joliet Junior College Robotics Challenge in April.

Sheth said he was proud of BHS and is "indebted to (his) extraordinarily dedicated teachers, the best any student could aspire for."

“The rigorous and challenging science curriculum offered by the Valley View School District is second to none," Sheth said. 

“Neil is an incredible example of the capabilities that all of our students have to excel here at BHS,” said Jane Jones, one of Sheth’s coaches at BHS. “His commitment to his education and future are an inspiration to all of us.”  

If selected as one of the top 20 national finalists, the three students could be invited to attend a two-week intensive study camp in June at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, where they could be given a chance to be a part of the four-member U.S. team that will be sent to participate in the 45th International Chemistry Olympiad July 15–24 in Moscow.

The U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) and the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) are among the world’s most prestigious, multi-tiered, chemistry competitions, bringing together the world’s most brilliant and exceptionally talented high school students to test their knowledge and skills in chemistry. 

Editor's note: This article was submitted by Valley View School District 365U.