Third annual Chemistry Day draws applause, repeat performance
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| A five-gallon water jug flies off the desk as 95 high school students watch at Penn State Behrend’s third annual Chemistry Day. Click here for more photos. |
The School of Science at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, hosted its third annual Chemistry Day for 95 eleventh- and twelfth-grade students who are enrolled in the Honors or Advanced Placement Chemistry classes at their respective high schools. Designed to reward top students with a day of friendly competition, nine high schools participated this year, including Cochranton Jr./Sr., Fairview, General McLane, Maple Grove Jr./Sr., Maplewood, McDowell, Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy, Seneca, and Villa Maria Academy.
“Our goal for the day is to make chemistry exciting for these students,” said Tracy Halmi, lecturer in chemistry and the day’s coordinator. “At the college level, Penn State Behrend has the equipment and resources that aren’t available in their high schools to show these students what chemistry can really do. It’s important to get them engaged.
“We’ve seen at least one Chemistry Day attendee each year become a Penn State Behrend student,” she added.
The students began the day by watching and participating in the Demonstration Extravaganza, the day’s hour long introduction with explosions galore. In addition, students compete in two experiments, which are kept confidential until they walk into the labs today, and also play Chemistry Jeopardy.
Maple Grove Jr./Sr. High School from Bemus Point, N.Y., earned its second consecutive title by taking the trophy again this year.
Visit live.psu.edu/stilllife/1710 for a photo gallery of this year’s Chemistry Day.
For more information, visit behrend.psu.edu.