Havre High students try for national science team

This past weekend, three Havre High School juniors took a chemistry test that could qualify them to become members of the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad team.

Matt Welch, Michael Ladenburg and Mario Pizzini were among nearly 1,000 high school students nationwide who took the exam for a chance to compete in the 34th International Chemistry Olympiad in the Netherlands from July 5-14.

Other Montana students who qualified to take the exam are from C.M. Russell High School, Helena High School and Carter County High School.

In order to take the national exam, students first had to take a local qualifier. The top eight Montana qualifiers moved on to take the national exam.

Welch tallied 50 out of a possible 60 points in the qualifying exam, while Ladenburg scored 43 points and Pizzini had 38 points.

In 2001, the U.S. team ranked in the top five at the Olympiad, earning two gold medals and two silver medals. A total of 210 students represented 54 countries last year. This is the 19th year of U.S. participation in the Olympiad.