I appreciate all of the students who responded to my challenge and prodding
with so many wonderful memories!
STUDENTS SHINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
PHYSICS COMPETITION
University of Alabama, TUSCALOOSA, AL— January 27, 2012
McGill-Toolen Catholic High School took part in the 36th annual University of Alabama High School Physics Competition on Friday January 27, 2012 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. There were sixty-nine teams and 284 of the best senior level physics students from schools in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia. A McGill-Toolen Catholic High School student was honored as a top individual competitor and four members had all perfect rounds in the team competition.
Mathew Heubach was recognized with a"Top Individual Physics Award" medal (given only to the top 10 individual test scores). This is the first time a McGill-Toolen student has earned this award in the 36 year history of the competition and these students are then qualified for a full four year scholarship to the University of Alabama (he accepted this offer). It happened to the first class to ever complete the new science sequence that now starts with Physics in the freshman year! In addition McGIll-Toolen had numerous other first time accomplishments.
In another first for McGill-Toolen Catholic High School four students had all perfect rounds by correctly answering all (4) presented physics problems correctly in 40 seconds or less. "All perfect" rounds were posted by Mathew Heubach, Kevin Kusch, Allen Davis and Collin Phillips.
The A Team consisted of Matthew Heubach, Kevin Kusch, Allen Davis and Frank Foley. The B-Team consisted of Matthew Davis, Collin Phillips, Jacob Jagiello, and Brandon Pham. The A-Team scored the highest score in the history of McGill-Toolen Teams (65) and the B-Team finished with only 2 points less! McGill-Toolen teams finished 6th (A) and 7th (B) in the "Private School Division". The teams would have won first & second place in the "Large Public School Division" or the "Magnet School Division".
Dr. Tim Burgess (McGill-Toolen Science Chair) noted "Matthew Heubach obtained a distinction few students from our region have accomplished in 36 years by winning top individual honors. McGill-Toolen A-Team displayed competitive spirit by remaining in first place for 13 of 16 rounds (more than any previous McGill-Toolen team). Our students then went on to finish as one of the three highest scoring Alabama schools. The McGill-Toolen performance is certainly the direct result of the extraordinary talent, capability and work ethic of our very special students. Success also springs from our community due to the facilities and resources our students enjoy when doing scientific reasoning day in and day out. Success like we had this year is only possible with such support and we are very grateful!"
