LAB SKILLS CONTEST 2002

Results of 7th Annual Laboratory Skills Contest for High School Chemistry Students.

Invitations were extended to high schools in the UCFV catchment area to enter teams of four students in the 7th Annual UCFV Chemistry Laboratory Skills Contest held on Saturday, October 19 as part of National Chemistry Week. Twelve teams, representing nine different high schools, accepted the invitation. The high schools represented were Abbotsford Senior Secondary (two teams), Chilliwack Senior Secondary, Heritage Park Secondary, the Mennonite Educational Institute, Mission Secondary, W. J. Mouat Secondary (two teams), Rick Hansen Secondary, Sardis Secondary, and Yale Secondary (two teams).

Competing students each completed three experiments: the determination of the concentration of phosphoric acid in cola beverages, the synthesis of iodoform, and the qualitative analysis of six chemicals found in or around the home. The overall winner was one of the teams from Yale Secondary School - the fourth consecutive year that this school has won the trophy. The winning team consisted of Manreet Gill, Amy MacKenzie, Jeraldine Chan, and Shahona Nathwani. The runner-up was the team representing Chilliwack Senior Secondary School, composed of Alanna Stewart, Kyle Nadalin, Linh Trieu, and Charlene Dyck. The team of Jesse Jansen, Tara Rother, Ryan Chapman, and Sanjay Singh, representing W. J. Mouat Secondary School, was third.

Lunch was provided for all the participating students, and the day concluded with a Chemistry Magic Show presented by UCFV staff and students.

The event was co-ordinated by Dr. Arthur Last of the UCFV Chemistry Department with the help of technicians Aileen Ablog, Shawn Millar, and Shawna Dyck; and laboratory instructors Gordon von Hollen and Jane Webb. Assistance was also provided by UCFV students Gail Garcia, Lisa Ego, Chris Reilly, Tony Raymond, Ken Dykstra, and Candice Brady. The assistance of Lisa Gojsic of the UCFV Development Office in obtaining prizes from sponsors is gratefully acknowledged.

Prizes for participating students were donated by Abbotsford Printing, Giggle Ridge, Castle Fun Park, Milestones, Winsome White, Roger’s Video, Towne Cinema Centre, Save-on Foods, Boston Pizza, Panago Pizza, Big Brothers / Big Sisters, Dollar Superstore (Murrayville), the UCFV Bookstore, the UCFV Student Union, Fisher Scientific, and VWR Scientific. Financial support was received from the Canadian Society for Chemistry (Vancouver Section); the UCFV Faculty Staff Association; the UCFV Department of Student and Employee Services; and the UCFV Faculty of Science, Health, and Human Services.

The following are pictures of some of the participants of the fall 2002 Chemistry Laboratory Skills Contest and of the Chemistry Magic show.

PREVIOUS WINNERS IN THE COMPETITION WERE

• Sardis Secondary School (1996)
• Abbotsford Senior Secondary School (1997)
• Heritage Park Secondary School (1998)
• Yale Secondary School (1999)
• Yale Secondary School (2000)
• Yale Secondary School (2001)