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Jack Lee wins New Jersey state chemistry competition sponsored by BASF Corporation and Brenntag Specialties
Sixth grade student will face off against other state champions in the National You Be The Chemist Challenge® in June
FLORHAM PARK, NJ, May 4, 2015 – Jack Lee, a sixth grader from David E. Owens Middle School in New Milford, New Jersey, competed against 29 other fifth to eighth grade students to win the New Jersey state You Be The Chemist Challenge®. He will represent New Jersey at the 11th annual National You Be The Chemist Challenge® in Philadelphia on June 22.
Developed by the Chemical Educational Foundation® (CEF), the Challenge is a question and answer competition that allows students to test their knowledge of chemistry concepts and real-world applications as the students compete to represent their state on a national level.
BASF Corporation and Brenntag North America are sponsors of the National Challenge. Both companies also sponsored the New Jersey state competition, which was held at BASF’s North American headquarters in Florham Park.
“As the world’s largest chemical company, BASF understands the importance of engaging students in science education at an early age,” said Robin Rotenberg, Vice President of Communications for BASF in North America. “Our strength as a company lies in our ability to find innovative solutions to meet the needs of the future. It is essential that we support and develop the best scientific and technical talents.”
“The students in the Challenge consistently impress us with their level of knowledge and enthusiasm,” said Tom Corcoran, Senior Vice President of Brenntag North America. “It is rewarding to see industry members and educators playing such a key role in motivating students to learn both inside and outside of the classroom, and to discover the ways chemistry is embedded in their everyday lives.”
At the national competition on June 22, the top four finalists will receive scholarships totaling $18,500.
“Competing in the Challenge can spark a lifelong interest in chemistry and other scientific fields, even before a student reaches high school,” said CEF Executive Director John Rice. “The competition shows students the immediate relevance of the science concepts they are studying. Challenge participants learn about the role of chemistry in the human body, in energy production, in creating new types of recyclable materials, and a variety of other applications – which is a wonderful introduction to the vast array of scientific careers available to them in the future.”
Download photo on right, suggested photo caption: Jack Lee (left), a sixth grader from New Milford, New Jersey, won the New Jersey State You Be The Chemist Challenge® and will represent New Jersey at the 2015 National Challenge event in Philadelphia on June 22. Also pictured from left to right: first runner-up Julie Gerber (sixth grader from Black River Middle School in Morris County); second runner-up Ronnie Millet (eighth grader from Franklin Avenue Middle School in Bergen County); and third runner-up Zachary De Nichilo (eighth grader from David E. Owens Middle School in Bergen County).
About the Chemical Educational Foundation®
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Arlington, VA, the Chemical Educational Foundation® (CEF) works closely with industry to enhance science education opportunities for our youth. CEF founded the You Be The Chemist Challenge® in 2004. For more information, visit www.chemed.org.
About Brenntag North America
Brenntag, the global market leader in chemical distribution, covers all major markets with its extensive product and service portfolio, operating with 13,500 employees in more than 490 locations across 72 countries. In 2014, the company generated sales of EUR 10.0 billion (USD 13.3 billion). Brenntag connects chemical manufacturers and chemical users. For more information about Brenntag, visit www.brenntagnorthamerica.com
About BASF
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20.6 billion in 2014. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.
At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of over €74 billion in 2014 and around 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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