LAB SKILLS CONTEST 2000

Results of 5th Annual Laboratory Skills Contest for High School Chemistry Students

As part of its celebration of National Chemistry Week and the Festival of Science and Technology, the U.C.F.V. Chemistry Department hosted its 5th annual laboratory skills contest for high-school students on Saturday, October 14.

Eleven teams of four students and one team of three students, representing high schools from Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission, took part in this one-day event, with each team member completing two experiments. In one experiment, each member of a team was required to determine the amount of Iron in a Vitamin tablet by means of a spectrophotometric analysis. In the second experiment, participants completed an inorganic synthesis, preparing alum from aluminum foil.

The team of Brent Vankleeck, Melissa Chan, Candice Brady and Kim Hall, representing Yale Secondary School,  were the best overall team and accordingly declared the winners. The runner-up in for best overall team was the team representing Mennonite Educational Institute, consisting of Christine Bergen, Sheila Balakshin,Stephanie Dick and Matthew Wilder. The best team in the Iron Determination experiment was the team of Paul Davis, Jeff Gebert, Ravi Rajwan and Osmar Penner representing Abbotsford Senior Secondary. Osmar Penner representing Abbotsford Senior Secondary was recognized as the best individual student. The best team in the Alum preparation experiment was the team of Sukhi Atti, Bryce Smiley, Nicole Boisjoli and Cameron Mertke representing Chilliwack Senior Secondary.

All participants should be congratulated for their willingness to spend a sunny October Saturday working indoors in a chemistry laboratory. Participants were entertained with a short chemistry magic show at the end of the contest.

The event was co-ordinated by Dr. Art Last of the U.C.F.V. Chemistry Department with the assistance of the following members of the department: Aileen Ablog, Shawna Dyck, Shawn Millar, Gordon von Hollen, Jane Webb. Additional assistance was provided by the following U.C.F.V. student volunteers: Leah Davies(former UCFV student),Katherine Hinkley, Tasenka Kushner, Jeffrey James, Janick Livera and Sean Share.

Prizes were donated by A and B Sound, Towne Cinema,  and the U.C.F.V. Bookstore. Financial support was received from the Canadian Society for Chemistry, the B.C. Information, Science and Technology Agency, the U.C.F.V. Faculty Staff Association,  and the U.C.F.V. Department of Employee and Student Services. Chartwells Food Service of  U.C.F.V. contributed to the lunch enjoyed by all participants.

PREVIOUS WINNERS IN THE COMPETITION WERE

• Sardis Secondary School (1996)
• Abbotsford Senior Secondary School (1997)
• Heritage Park Secondary School (1998)
• Yale Secondary School (1999)