Marymount to host USA Biolympiad Finals for second-straight year

Marymount to host USA Biolympiad Finals for second-straight year

 

Starting later this week, Marymount University will host the 2023 USA Biolympiad (USABO) National Finals on its main campus in Arlington. The competition, being held at Marymount for the second-straight year, is organized by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and will last from June 2-16, featuring top U.S. high school students from around the country.

The premiere biology education and testing program for high school students in the U.S., USABO’s mission concentrates on stimulating intellectual curiosity in young scholars and developing their critical thinking in laboratory skills and biological reasoning to propel them to careers of excellence and leadership in science and technology.

“Forming a partnership that brings the CEE’s USA Biolympiad Finals to Marymount University is wonderful for everyone involved,” said Dr. Todd Rimkus, Director of Marymount’s School of Science, Mathematics & Engineering. “Our faculty are amazing experts in their fields who can bring these topics to life for these high-achieving young adults. We’re also excited to demonstrate how a STEM education at Marymount can get these students, who are the best and brightest in their generation, where they want to go in their future careers.”

“These students are some of the highest achieving biology students in the USA,” said Joann DiGennaro, President of CEE. “CEE’s USA Biolympiad program encourages excellence in biology education and challenges students and their teachers to reach the gold standard in science.”

The 20 finalists will participate in 10 days of high-level biology instruction that includes laboratory training and conceptual understanding, followed by two days of testing. Ultimately, four students will earn the honor of representing the U.S. at the 34th International Biology Olympiad, a worldwide competition involving student teams from over 80 countries. It will take place in the United Arab Emirates from July 3-11.

“This is an incredible journey these students take, and it demonstrates the passion these students have for biological sciences,” said Kathy Frame, director of the USA Biolympiad. “For high school USABO finalists to experience this level of excellence is an exceptional opportunity.”

Finalists include one local student – Kaiden Zida Wu from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va. Other finalists are from:

  • California
    • Sophia Chen, Sage Hill School, Newport Coast
    • Yufei Chen, University High School, Irvine
    • Fiona Li, Henry M. Gunn Senior High School, Palo Alto
    • Daniel J. Liu, Mission San Jose High School, Fremont
    • Sakura Nakanishi, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rancho Palos Verdes
    • Aditya Sivakumar, Mira Loma High School, El Dorado Hills
    • Richard Zhu, North Hollywood Senior High School, North Hollywood
  • Colorado
    • Sophie Ling Wang, Fossil Ridge High School, Fort Collins
  • Kentucky
    • Yolanda Zixuan Xie, duPont Manual High School, Louisville
    • Jonah Xinting Xu, duPont Manual High School, Louisville
  • Massachusetts
    • Allen Fei, PrepEdu Consulting LLC, Lexington
    • Damon V. Gurvich, PrepEdu Consulting LLC, Lexington
  • Michigan
    • Ian Chang, Cranbrook Kingwood Upper School, Bloomsfield Hills
  • North Carolina
    • Jerry Cao-Xue, William G. Enloe, Raleigh
  • Texas
    • Aryan Bora, William P. Clements High School, Sugar Land
    • Carolina Theresia Kusumanegara, Seven Lakes High School, Katy
    • Surya Mothilal Reddy, Jordan High School, Katy
    • Bill Sun, Seven Lakes High School, Katy
    • Vishal Surya, Seven Lakes High School, Katy