I appreciate all of the students who responded to my challenge
and prodding with so many wonderful memories!
Bulldogs
Four-peat at
2003 the
University of Alabama High School Physics Contest
Tuscaloosa,
Alabama
February
7, 2003
The
University of Alabama hosted the 27th
annual High School Physics contest attended by more than 42 teams and
220 students from three different states. Physics students from high
schools of all sizes and types in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee
attempted to qualify for team awards and two full four year
scholarships at this competition. The UMS-Wright Preparatory School
Physics A-Team placed 1st
for the fourth consecutive year. The UMS-Wright B Team won 2nd
place in a new division which grouped all private schools regardless
of size. Over all the schools at the competition (regardless of
size, type or curriculum focus) UMS-Wright was third, Grissom High
School (6A Public in Huntsville, AL) won second and the Mississippi
School of Math and Science (a statewide magnet school) won first.
The
UMS-Wright A-Team consisted of Jeb Bailey, Michael Owens, Larry Hu
and Matt Meduna. The UMS-Wright B-Team consisted of Luke Burgess,
Adam Georgas, Dima Zakharov and Beko Binder. In the “Private
Schools Division” the UMS-Wright A Team scored 48 points, the
UMS-Wright B-Team scored 46 points and the Briarwood A Team scored 34
points (3rd
place).
The
team portion of the competition consists of 4 rounds executed by each
of the 4 team members. Each round consists of one team member who
must respond with a correct solution in 120 seconds to physics
problems presented to all competitors at the same time. Faster
correct solutions earn more points than slower correct solutions.
During the first three rounds of the competition the UMS-Wright
B-Team actually led the UMS-Wright A-Team by two points. In the
final round the A-Team made a come from behind effort on a series of
difficult problems to win first place by two points over the
UMS-Wright B-Team.
Only
the very best Physics students attend this competition to take part
in the individual testing. Individual testing is used to determine
scholarship offerings. Seven of the nine UMS-Wright team members
were in the top 25% of the of the individual test takers. Michael
Owens and Jeb Bailey placed among the top 10% of the competitors.
Dr.
Tim Burgess, observed “Winning first place in four consecutive
years at a high stakes competition like the Alabama High School
Physics Contest is unprecedented. Such a tremendous accomplishment
is not just the result superior intellectual skill, but it is also
evidence of great character. Only character can make repeatedly
winning at this level possible.”
SHORT
PROSE VERSION
Forty-two
teams and more than 225 elite physics competitors from 3 different
states met on Friday February 7th
at the University of Alabama High School Physics Contest in
Tuscaloosa.. The bulldogs did a 4-peat by taking 1st place in their
division for the fourth consecutive year and won third among all
schools of all sizes. During the first 3 rounds of the competition
the UMS-Wright B Team was in first place, but in the final round the
UMS-Wright A Team came from behind to secure first place by 2 points.
The champion UMS-Wright Physics A-Team consisted of Jeb Bailey,
Michael Owens, Larry Hu and Matt Meduna. The second place B-Team
consisted of Luke Burgess, Adam Georgas, Dima Zakharov and Beko
Binder. Jeb Bailey and Michael Owens placed in the top 10% of the
competitors. Luke Burgess, Adam Georgas, Larry Hu, Matt Meduna and
Dima Zakharov placed among the top 25% of all competitors.
Bulldogs
can do Physics!
University of Alabama on Friday, February 7, 2003
UMS A-Team
1st Place
UMS-W B-Team
2nd Place
3rd Place
Overall Schools
Competition Participants:
Mostly seniors vying for 2 full four year scholarships
21 schools & 340 students from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee
UMS-Wright A-Team Members:
Jeb Bailey, Michael Owens, Larry Hu, Matt Meduna
UMS-Wright B-Team Members:
Luke Burgess, Adam Georgas, Dima Zakharov, Beko Binder
Alternate: Richard Friedman
Private School Division: 1st UMS-Wright A
2nd UMS-Wright B
3rd Briarwood
Overall School Awards:
1st : Miss. School Math & Science
2nd : Grissom High
3rd : UMS-Wright
Individual Awards:
Notes (score as of day of competition):
Top 10%: Jeb Bailey, Michael Owens
