2020 USABO Gold Medalists are: Judson Lam, Naperville North High School, Naperville, Illinois; Derrick Liang, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Virginia; Nithin Parsan, Clements High School, Sugar Land, Texas; and Albert Zhang, North Hollywood Senior High School, North Hollywood, California.
2020 USABO Silver Medalists are: Arthur Hu, Lexington High School, Lexington, Massachusetts; Rachit Mukkamala, Seven Lakes High School, Katy, Texas; Yajat Yadav, Del Norte High School, San Diego, California; and Michael Zhao, Lynbrook High School, San Jose, California.
2020 USABO Bronze Medalists are: Harry Chen, Ladue Horton Watkins High School, St. Louis, Missouri; Sean Fei, Lexington High School, Lexington, Massachusetts; Richard Zhu, Peddie School, Hightstown, New Jersey; and Lucy Zou, East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, New Jersey.
During the ten days of the National Finals, students participated in intensive theoretical and practical tutorials. The high school students studied with leading U.S. biologists who are experts in the fields of cellular & molecular biology, plant anatomy & physiology, animal anatomy & physiology, genetics & evolution, ecology, ethology, and biosystematics. The young scholars were mentored by Michelle King, Ph.D., Manager, USABO and Kathy Frame, USABO Advisor & Consultant.
The gold medalists will participate as the USA Biolympiad Team in the IBO Challenge 2020(a substitute for the 31st IBO Nagasaki, Japan) in August.The regular IBO for 2020 in Nagasaki / Japan was cancelled due to COVID-19. Instead of leaving national representatives without an opportunity for international competition, the hosts of IBO 2020 are offering a virtual substitute to provide national winners with a chance to showcase their abilities and encounter new aspects of biology.
At the closing USABO medal ceremony, Ryan Jamiolkowski, MD, PhD, USABO (2004) & RSI (2004), participated as the Keynote Speaker. He is a Neurosurgery Resident at Stanford University. CEE President Joann DiGennaro provided closing remarks.
“CEE is so proud of these students who worked so hard to compete at the 2020 USABO National Finals,” said Joann DiGennaro, President of CEE. “I wish the gold medalists success as they participate in the international competition,” she added.
About the Center for Excellence in Education
The Center for Excellence in Education was founded in 1983 by the late Admiral H.G. Rickover and Joann P. DiGennaro, President of the Center. The Center's mission is to nurture high school and university scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and to encourage collaboration between and among leaders in the global community. CEE’s programs include the Research Science Institute (RSI), the USA Biolympiad (USABO), and the Teacher Enrichment Program (TEP). Visit https://www.cee.org/.
About the USA Biolympiad
The Center for Excellence in Education developed and implemented the first-ever USA Biolympiad (USABO) in 2002 to train future leaders in the biological sciences. In 2004, the USA Biolympiad Team was awarded an unprecedented four gold medals in Brisbane, Australia, a feat accomplished for the first time in Biology Olympiad history. The U.S. Team has continued this remarkable record of success by winning four gold medals in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Now in its eighteenth year, the USABO continues to nurture young scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in science. Visit https://www.usabo-trc.org/.
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