Studentsin Mary Ann Mazzolas chemistry class at Proctor High School in Utica are among 10,000 high school students in the United States who are experiencing their own March Madness as they participate in local Chemistry Olympiad competitions the first step toward securing a spot on the U.S. Chemistry Olympiad team.

Later this summer, the team will go up against chemistry students from 70 other nations at the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad outside Washington, D.C.

Next month, Mazzolas top two chemistry students will go on to take the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad national exam with the top two students from all other participating high schools in the country.

Selection for the national exam is based on scores in the local competition and teacher recommendations. The top 20 students from the national competition are then invited to a two-week intensive study camp held in June at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

At the camps conclusion, the final four students are chosen to represent the United States at the International Chemistry Olympiad, where they compete with the worlds most talented high school students for gold, silver and bronze medals.

The local examinations consist of 60 multiple-choice questions representing a fairly wide range of difficulty, usually completed in 110 minutes. The three-part, 4.5-hour national exam includes multiple-choice questions, problem solving and a lab.

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Proctor chemistry students participate in March Madness