Left to right: Dr. Tedros Bezabeh, Amber Christly, Alyssa Tatum, John Fergurgur, Jack Martinez, Cody Quichocho, Ronald Rosario, Daniel Su, Joerelyn Ollet, Michelle Luces, Dr. Bulan Wu, and Dr. Maika Vuki. These students were given awards for their work during the 2017 Chemistry Titration Competition held March 14, 2017.

The high school Chemistry Titration Competition, held on Charter Day every year since it began in 2009, is an annual outreach event that tests students’ skill and knowledge in the field of Chemistry. 

This year, 32 students from eight high schools from around the island participated in the event. On average, about seven high schools participate every year, said Maika Vuki, chemistry professor at the University of Guam and coordinator of the event. Each school is allowed to send two teams. Teams are made up of maximum two students. 

Titration is an experimental technique where the quantity of chemical substance is determined by volume measurement. In the competition, the students are given a sample of an impure compound, and they have to determine the percentage purity. Points are based on how precise and accurate the final results are.

Prizes are given in three categories: highest team score, highest individual score, and highest laboratory score. In each category, students that place in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd win prizes, which include a trophy or plaque with a UOG bookstore gift certificate. The gift certificate for 1st place is $100, for 2nd place is $75, and for 3rd place is $50. For the team award the gift certificate is $200, $150, and $100 respectively.  

Below are winners in each category: 

TEAM AWARD

1st: Guam High School (Amber Christly and Alyssa Tatum)
 
2nd: Father Duenas Memorial School (John Fergurgur and Jack Martinez)
 
3rd: Saint Paul Christian School (Cody Quichocho and Ronald del Rosario)

INDIVIDUAL AWARD

1st: Jack Martinez (Father Duenas Memorial School)

2nd: Daniel Su (Saint John’s School)

3rd: Michelle Luces (Notre Dame High School)

LAB SKILLS AWARD

1st: Amber Christly (Guam High School)

2nd: Joerelyn Ollet (John F. Kennedy High School)

3rd: Beatrice Diaz (Saint John’s School)