FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Five Students Chosen to Represent United States in Physics Olympiad
College Park, Maryland, United States, June 07, 2007
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the American Institute of Physics (AIP) today announced the five students chosen to represent the United States at the 2007 International Physics Olympiad in Isfahan, Iran.
The 2007 U.S. Physics Team members are: Kenan Diab, Gates Mills, OH (teacher: Bob Shurtz); Rui Hu, Wilmington, DE (teacher: David Stover); Jenny Kwan, San Marcos, CA (teacher: Jose Fernandez); Jason LaRue, Miami, FL (teacher: David Jones); and Haofei Wei, Oklahoma City, OK (teacher: Shayne Johnston).
"The students were selected not only for their physics knowledge—they took nine theoretical exams and five lab exams—but also because they represent what we aspire to see in all students: their leadership, attitude, disposition, and creativity," said Toufic Hakim, executive director of the American Association of Physics Teachers, which sponsors the team. "These well-rounded students will represent the United States ably at the international competition."
Each winter, more than 200 of the nation’s top-scoring high school students advance to the semifinals for the national team. Based on the results of an additional physics test, as well as students’ school transcripts and letters of recommendation, the 24 members of the U.S. Physics Team are chosen in early May. Later in the month, team members travel to the University of Maryland-College Park for nine days of intense studying, testing, and problem solving at the annual U.S. Physics Team Training Camp. The five students who make up the national Traveling Team are chosen at the close of camp. Three additional days of intense laboratory work follow before the students leave for the International Olympiad.
About the Olympiad
The U.S. Physics Olympiad Program is a joint initiative of AAPT and AIP. AAPT began the program in 1986 to promote and demonstrate academic excellence. The International Olympiad is a nine-day competition among pre-university students from more than 80 nations. This year’s Olympiad, the 38th, will be held at the Isfahan University of Technology in Iran on July 13-22. In 2006, the U.S. team brought home four gold and one silver medal.
2007 International Physics Olympiad Traveling Team
Kenan Diab, Westlake, Ohio. He is a senior at the Hawken School in Gates Mills and his bio can be found here.
Rui Hu, Newark, Delaware. He is a junior at Charter School of Wilmington and his bio can be found here.
Jenny Kwan, San Marcos, CA. She is a senior at San Marcos High School and her bio can be found here.
Jason LaRue, Miami, FL. He is a senior at Miami Palmetto High School and his bio can be found here.
Haofei Wei, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He is a senior at Oklahoma School of Science and Math in Oklahoma City and his bio can be found here.
About AAPT
AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators—with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.
For More Information
Contact Robert Merz, Marketing Manager
media@aapt.org
1-301-209-3307
1-301-209-0845 (Fax)
U.S. Physics Team Site
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