Syosset High School Student Competing In USA Biolympiad Finals

SYOSSET, NY — A Syosset high-schooler is one of just two students in New York who is competing at the 18th annual USA Biolympiad National Finals, which is being held virtually.

The Center for Excellence in Education said 20 biology scholar finalists are receiving 10 days of instruction inclusive of lab training and conceptual understanding, followed by two days of testing. Instruction began Tuesday. Ultimately, four students will be competitively chosen to represent the USA in the IBO Challenge 2020 in August.

Two students from New York are participating in the USABO: Victor Li of The Wheatley School in Old Westbury and Max Yin of Syosset High School.

About 10,000 students from across the country registered for the biolympiad finals and nearly 500 high schools registered. Nearly 600 were selected as semi-finalists. The 20 national finalists were selected following completion of an online exam that consisted of 100 multiple choice questions.

"For high school USABO finalists to experience this level of research excellence is really an exceptional opportunity," Kathy Frame, USABO advisor and consultant, said in a news release.

Joann DiGennaro, president of the center, said the event is meant to encourage excellence in biology education throughout the United States and challenge students and their teachers to reach what she called "the gold standard in biology."

"These students are some of the highest achieving biology students in the USA," she said.