Team USA 2018 Named at National Finals at UC San Diego

McLean, VA (July 11, 2018) – The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) announces the names of the Team USA high school biology scholars who earned gold medals at the 16th Annual USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) National Finals hosted for the first time by UC San Diego. Nearly 10,500 students from 479 schools and 47 states registered in the nationwide high school competition.

Team USA 2018 Gold Medalists are Lucy Chen, Mounds View High School, MN; Allen Huang, Canyon Crest Academy, CA; Alexander Tsao, Troy High School, CA and; Jason Yang, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, NJ.

During the ten days at UC San Diego, the finalists 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 Xiaojun (Bill) Li, Vice President, USABO and Kathy Frame, Advisor/Consultant USABO Special Projects.

At the closing USABO medal ceremony, Kit Pogliano, Dean of UC San Diego’s Graduate Division and a professor in the Division of Biological Sciences, participated as the Keynote Speaker. Joann DiGennaro, President of CEE provided opening and closing remarks.

USABO 2018 silver (4) medalists are Charles Huang, Lynbrook High, CA; Edward Lee, LASA High School, TX; Nithin Parsan, Clements High School, TX; and Wenbo Wu, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, VA.

USABO 2018 bronze (5) medalists are Bhav Jain, Franklin Regional SHS, PA; Derrick Liang, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, VA; Atharv Oak, West Windsor Plainsboro HS - South, NJ; Henry Shen, Oak Ridge High School, TN; and Jason Zhang, Troy High School, MI.

“CEE is so proud of Team USA that worked so hard to compete at the USABO Finals at UC San Diego,” said Joann DiGennaro, President of CEE. “They are recognized as the highest achieving biology students in this nation. This was a remarkable experience for Team USA to use the amazing research laboratories and campus resources at UC San Diego,” she added.

“UC San Diego was thrilled to host the USA Biology Olympiad National Finals, and we congratulate Team USA for earning gold medals,” said Bill McGinnis, Ph.D., Dean of UC San Diego’s Division of Biological Sciences. “We wish Team USA and all of the finalists continued success in the pursuit of their academic achievements.”

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 schooland 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 Biology Olympiad (USABO), and the Teacher Enrichment Program (TEP).

USABO Contact:	Bill Li, (703) 448-9062 ext. 231
	Kathy Frame, (571) 228-0098