School, Team & Individual Winners in 2014!

I appreciate all of the students who responded to my challenge and prodding

with so many wonderful memories!

                McGill-Toolen Catholic High School took part in the 38th annual University of Alabama High School Physics Competition at Galilee Hall on Friday January 31, 2014 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Due to cold weather  and icy conditions in other parts of the state additional schools engaged in the competition on Tuesday February 18th (2014) at the Bryant Convention Center.  Performance from both competition dates was used to select the winners.  There were 19 public, private and magnet math-science schools,, 44 teams and more than 200 of the best physics students (mostly seniors) from the southeast region of the United States.  This high stakes Physics competition is the oldest and most prestigious in the region attracting the quality science programs and the best students. 

      The McGill-Toolen A-Team won 1st Place in the Private School Division AND 1st Place over all schools in all divisions. Two McGill-Toolen students were warded Top Individual Honors (one was a junior ranked 6th among all competitors.)  McGill-Toolen was also awarded 1st Place among all Schools based on both individual test results and team performance.  Five McGill-Toolen competitors had perfect team rounds (tying the the highest ever for McGill-Toolen) including 2 freshman, a sophomore and 2 seniors.

       On Thursday (January 30) the two teams of competitors from McGill-Toolen departed McGill-Toolen at noon in a mini-bus and arrived at Comfort Suites in Tuscaloosa at 5:15 PM.  That evening, after a team meal the McGill-Toolen competitors attended a "viewing" at the campus Observatory and were treated to of a live exploding "supernova" (visible to large telescopes on earth for 2 weeks only ).  The day of the competition on Friday January 31 began with a mass at Holy Spirit Parish in Tuscaloosa. At the close of the mass Fr. Deasy (the celebrant) recognized the team (the team goes to a mass prior to the competition every year) and he asked how the Physics Team had done in the previous year.  The congregation erupted into applause when they were informed that McGill-Toolen was defending, for the first time, a Physics Championship won in that previous year (2013).  An hour later in Gallelee Hall grueling individual physics tests were taken by the competitors.  This was followed by a team cipher that lasted about an hour.  Then a special physics show and awards ceremony followed that afternoon.  Demonstrations and experiences using resonance tubes was provided by Dr. Harrell (Professor in the Physics Department) and that was followed by a tour of the interactive Freshman Physics Lab.  
     The teams on McGill-Toolen A-Team included Collin Phillips, Chris McDonald, Jacob Jagielllo and Matthew Davis, .  The McGill-Toolen B Team included Tim Deighton, Erin Hannahan, , Connor Kusch and and Claire Powers.  Brennin Griffin was an alternate.  The team was escorted by Dr. Hannahan, Dr. Weber   and Dr. Tim Burgess.   
     On January 31, 2014 McGill-Toolen earned team and individual scores but official results and placement had to wait until all teams had participated.   Remaining schools and teams attended a postponed competition on February 18, 2014.  This provided all opposing teams, schools and individuals with eighteen more days to prepare for the same items and rigorous individual tests.  McGill-Toolen competitors waited anxiously for the results over then next 2 and a half weeks.  On February 19, 2014 Dr. Keel, the competition director, emailed Dr. Burgess the results.  The two week disparity did not prevent the McGill-Toolen A-Team or school from winning top honors! 

Team Honors

     Teams are placed in divisions of small public schools, large public schools, private schools and science-math magnet schools. All divisions do the same problems at the same time and are rated based on correct answer and time of response.  

     The McGill-Toolen A Team consisted of seniors Collin Phillips and Jacob Jagiello,  junior Matthew Davis and sophomore Chris McDonald scored 78 points (2 points short of perfect!)  This team was awarded first place in the "Private School Division" and won 1st place Overall teams from all school divisions.  This is the second consecutive year that McGill-Toolen has won 1st among all teams in all divisions.  The B-Team consisted of senior Erin Hannahan, sophomore Connor Kusch along with freshmen Claire Powers and Tim Deighton. 

     Perfect team competition rounds are earned by correctly answering all 4 presented physics problems correctly in 40 seconds or less. Perfect team rounds were posted by Collin Phillips, Jacob Jagiello, Chris McDonald, Claire Powers and Tim Deighton.  Matthew Davis answered all team round questions correctly.

Individual Honors:

     Collin Phillips and Matthew Davis earned "Top Individual Honors" (with the highly prized medallion for that award) and qualified for full scholarship offers.  Collin Phillips (senior) obtained the 5th highest score among all students at the competition on the 75 minute scholarship exam.  Matthew Davis (junior) assigned the 6th highest position based on a free response tie breaker.  This is the third consecutive year that a McGill-Toolen student (or more) has earned this award and the second time two McGill-Toolen students have won the award in the same year! Collin Phillips and Allen Davis have a claim on the full four year scholarship to the University of Alabama as a result of this performance.

School Honors:

     The final and most prestigious award is the "School Award Trophy" which is based on a combination of top team score and average individual scores.  McGill-Toolen Catholic High School was given the 1st place "School Award" for the second consecutive year!  Consistency at this overall level of performance is a tremendous accomplishment.

      Physics Team moderator Dr. Tim Burgess (McGill-Toolen Science Chair) noted "Intellectual talent, dedication and the disciplined development of reasoning are required to win at this competition and this accomplishment says great things about our students, school and community.  Our competitors truly reached higher and went further!  This amazing performance is an accomplishment rare for any school from any region.  This is the second consecutive year of such a sweep and all of us should be thrilled about the message that is sent with this accomplishment."

      The emphasis of McGill-Toolen in recent years on the synergistic relationship between faith and science has laid the ground work for the accomplishments of our outstanding science students. I personally believe that students who learn to genuinely reason and develop fully our God given intellects will nurture a deep and vibrant faith.  Success also springs from the support of our community as displayed in the fabulous facilities and resources our students enjoy while doing scientific reasoning day in and day out in the class room.  Success, as we had these last two years, is made possible with the tremendous community support we have and we are very grateful!"

==============

Combining my love for competition and interest in science was something I did from early on in my career. 

I also liked to do “action research” to evaluate initiatives in my class and department.

Some of the fun I have  had as a teacher is here!

https://drbreminices.blogspot.com/2019/09/awesome-times-documented.html

“Physics First” was a department wide change in science sequence that I wanted to implement if able to.

It was cool to be able to oversee such a change prior to retirement!

https://physicsfirstworks.blogspot.com/2017/03/physics-first-starter.html

Commentary on Physics Team Victory 2013

I appreciate all of the students who responded to my challenge and prodding

with so many wonderful memories!

In the second year that we had seniors who went through the Physics First program as freshmen won, for the first time in school history, the

University of Alabama High School Physics Competition in 2013

Coaches Commentary on the

McGill-Toolen Physics Team Victory in 2013!
[comments made after Ash Wednesday school wide Mass]

          The accomplishment of the McGill-Toolen Catholic High School Physics Team in 2013 is an experience without comparison in more than thirty years of my personally observing, teaching and coaching at the high school level.  This team made me a witness to how God influences, uses and nurtures character and talents of those who are willing to be his servants.  These competitors responded to set backs, prepared for challenge, encouraged each other and risked losing.

          What were the challenges facing the McGill-Toolen Catholic High School Physics Team? McGill-Toolen is placed in the Private school division. Private schools often have resources which allow for greater individual attention during training (with tuition more than 3 times higher than McGill-Toolen) and more time for competition preparation (boarding schools often have multiple evening sessions dedicated to Physics) which explains the consistently high scores. The Large Public Schools (such as Hoover)can have a populations of students 3 times larger than McGill-Toolen with a much larger pool of students with talent and motivation. The Science and Math Magnet Schools draw only students with an interest in science who also have the very highest of standardized scores. Schools from areas of the state (such as Huntsville) with a disproportionate number of students of parents who are scientists and engineers is an additional challenge.

          Most of all, as is the case with most first time accomplishments any team, the competitors had to perform better than any one from McGill-Toolen before them. Allowing yourself to risk effort at becoming the best is one of the greatest challenges in life for anyone.

          The A-Team and the B-Team from McGill-Toolen High School in 2013 won over all schools in all divisions. This was an outcome I considered so unlikely that I wagered away my beard and my hair.  I was wrong (and happy to be corrected!)

         Jacob Jagiello (a junior) and alternate to both A & B Teams led a C-Team which unofficially won 3rd place in the private school division but was not awarded the plaque for technical reasons (duplicate team member roles).

          The B-Team which finished second over all schools was led by senior Silvio Piccini and anchored by Collin Phillips (a junior). Silvio, Collin and Jacob all worked tirelessly and unselfishly with younger Physics Team members through the last two years. These members were destined to help a team this year and included freshman Logan Robinson and Connor Kusch who qualified for the B team by scoring among the top nine out of 51 aspiring team members in early January on a qualifying test.

          Another freshman, Chris McDonald, qualified to be on the A-Team by qualifying and then, under great pressure, maintained the highest performance on a series of Physics assessments.  A key member of the A-Team was senior Jantzen Lee who joined the team this year for the first time and helped put the school over the top with his outstanding team play and with an outstanding individual score.

          I can not do justice in describing the impact of Seniors Kevin Kusch and Allen Davis. They had three years of "coming close" (winning 4th in the freshman year, 7th the sophomore year and 4th again in the junior year). These two showed faithfulness and persistence in remaining with the team but they also demanded more assessments, more drills and more study by team mates in the final days. Kevin and Allen relentlessly pushed team mates to correct errors and redo assessments with any eye for improving mastery. The result was an A-Team that dominated all other schools and teams (except the McGill_Toolen B-Team which was only 1 question behind).

          Kevin Kusch could have decided to focus preparation only on the individual scholarship test but he did not. He encouraged and pushed everyone to improve. Kevin ended up obtaining the highest score on the Physics Test given to all 300 competitors who aspired to win the full four year scholarship. Allen Davis came in 10th among all competitors. Kevin and Allen won "Top Individual Honor" and both qualified for the full four year non-contingent scholarships sought by all those at the competition.

          The "1st Place School" trophy is given to the school that has they highest combination of team scores and average individual scores. There was no doubt, when that trophy was lifted, which school was going to win.   McGill-Toolen Catholic High School started the day in the Holy Spirit chapel in prayer and then posing for a picture in front of a statute of Jesus' baptism..   The team ended the day with applause by those who had come to win but now saw a special group of competitors from a part of the state that rarely wins.

          In a certain sense that trophy belongs to our whole community. It belongs to those in our academic departments who helped hone reading, math and the reasoning skills that lead  arrive at the truth of a solution.  It belongs to our athletic departments whose example and high of expectations lifts our expectations.  It belongs to our community that provides science facilities allowing us to nurture science reasoning skills by DOING science day in and day out.   We also have a faith which birthed the discipline of science.  We recognize that this achievement was, like Physics itself, a gift from God.  Do now we give our creator, the source of light and truth. the glory he deserves.
          Glory be to the father and to the son and to the holy spirit!

(read after the Ash Wednesday Mass on  February 13, 2013)

===================================================

In all the material above it is important to remember that the views expressed by me here, on any website or in any publication do not  represent the views of  

McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, 

Archdiocese of Mobile or any  part of the Universal Catholic Church.

===================================================

School, Team and Individual Victories in 2013!

I appreciate all of the students who responded to my challenge and prodding

with so many wonderful memories!

In the second year that we had seniors who went through the Physics First program as freshmen won, for the first time in school history, the

University of Alabama High School Physics Competition in 2013!

11:46 AM January 25, 2013 at the University of Alabama Ferguson Center

        at the 2013 UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS COMPETITION

         McGill-Toolen Catholic High School took part in the 37th annual University of Alabama High School Physics Competition at the Ferguson Center on Friday January 25th, 2013 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. There were more than 70 teams and 300 of the best senior level physics students from schools in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia. The McGill-Toolen Teams won first and second over teams in all divisions. Two McGill-Toolen students were honored as top individual competitors and one scored the highest on the scholarship competition. McGill-Toolen was also awarded 1st Place among all Schools based on both individual test results and team performance. Five McGill-Toolen competitors had perfect team rounds (the highest ever for McGill-Toolen)

          The day of the competition began with a communion service at Holy Spirit Parish in Tuscaloosa. An hour later grueling individual physics tests were taken and then that was followed by a team cipher that lasted an hour and a half. A physics show and awards ceremony followed that afternoon.

          Kevin Kusch obtained the highest score among all students at the competition on the 75 minute scholarship exam. Kevin Kusch and Allen Davis were given "Top Individual Physics Award" medals (given only to the top 10 individual test scores). This is the second consecutive year that a McGill-Toolen student has earned this award and the first time two McGill-Toolen students have won in the same year! Kevin Kusch and Allen Davis are automatically qualify for full four year scholarships to the University of Alabama as a result of the performance.

         Teams are placed in divisions of small public schools, large public schools, private schools and science-math magnet schools. All divisions do the same problems at the same time and are rated based on correct answer and time of response.

         The McGill-Toolen A Team consisted of seniors Kevin Kusch, Allen Davis, Jantzen Lee and freshman Chris McDonald.  This team was awarded first place in the "Private School Division" and won 1st place among all schools in all divisions for the first time in school history.  The B-Team consisted of junior Collin Phillips, senior Silvio Piccini, Logan Robinson and Connor Kusch (both freshman).  The B_Team was awarded 2nd place in the "Private School Division" and won 2nd place among all schools in all divisions for the first time in school history.

         Perfect team competition rounds (correctly answering all 4 presented physics problems correctly in 40 seconds or less). Perfect team rounds were posted by Silvio Piccini, Jantzen Lee, Allen Davis, Logan Robinson and Kevin Kusch. Chris McDonald answered all team round questions correctly.

         The final and highest award is the "School Award" (based on a combination of team scores and average individual scores). McGill-Toolen Catholic High School was given the 1st place "School Award" for the first time in School history.  Hoover High School won second place and Ranburne High School won 3rd Place.

         Physics Team moderator Dr. Tim Burgess (McGill-Toolen Science Chair) noted "The leadership on the team this year was extraordinary. Kevin Kusch and Allen Davis pushed team mates to develop better problem solving skills. Collin Phillips and Jacob Jagiello (juniors) spent many hours developing the skills of the younger competitors. This amazing performance is an accomplishment rare for any school from any region. Such a sweep rarely occurs for only the very best teams on a good day with leadership that has prepared the team for success.

         The McGill-Toolen performance is the direct result of the extraordinary talent, capability and work ethic of our very special students. The emphasis of McGill-Toolen in recent years on the synergistic relationship between faith and science has laid the ground work for the accomplishments of our outstanding science students. Success also springs from the support of our community as displayed in the fabulous facilities and resources our students enjoy while doing scientific reasoning day in and day out in the class room. Success, as we had this year, is only possible with community support and we are very grateful!"

COMMENTARY AT SCHOOL WIDE ASSEMBLY

https://drbreminices.blogspot.com/2015/07/commentary-on-2013-physics-team-victory_29.html

-----------

Al.com article at: 

http://blog.al.com/live/2013/02/mcgill-toolen_wins_state_physi.html

TV Segment Video at:

http://www.mcgill-toolen.org/apps/video/watch.jsp?v=43498

Slideshow at:

http://www.mcgill-toolen.org/apps/video/watch.jsp?v=41070

Team Scores of Winners at Competition:

Top Overall Scores

McGill-Toolen A Team:    1^st  Overall Teams                   73 points

McGill-Toolen B Team:    2nd Overall Teams                   68 points

Hoover High School:        3rd  Overall Teams                   65 points

Hoover A-Team 1^st among large Public Schools              65 pts

Ranburne A-Team: 1^st among Regular Public Schools      58 pts

Miss. Math and Science School: 1^st
among Science and Math                                                 53 pts

Magnet Schools

Additional Information (and photos) are available from the University of Alabama:

http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/02/high-school-student-winners-announced-in-ua-physics-contest-4/

==============

Combining my love for competition and interest in science was something I did from early on in my career. 

I also liked to do “action research” to evaluate initiatives in my class and department.

Some of the fun I have  had as a teacher is here!

https://drbreminices.blogspot.com/2019/09/awesome-times-documented.html

“Physics First” was a department wide change in science sequence that I wanted to implement if able to.

It was cool to be able to oversee such a change prior to retirement!

https://physicsfirstworks.blogspot.com/2017/03/physics-first-starter.html

===================================================

Please note that the views expressed here by me do not  represent the views of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, Archdiocese of Mobile or any  part of the Universal Catholic Church.

Top Individual Award 2012!

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!"

Alabama Science and Engineering Award Winners 2011

I appreciate all of the students who responded to my challenge and prodding

with so many wonderful memories!

University of Alabama in Huntsville
Alabama Science and Engineering Fair
April 2, 2011

       McGill-Toolen freshman Pasley Graham and Mark Gacek were awarded the United States Army Outstanding Project Award and Honorable Mention in Physics at the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair held at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
       Pasley Graham and Mark Gacek provided a project titled "Shoe Friction Lab", performed measurements, wrote up and presented research and created a display for the project.  Dr. Burges stated "Winning at the state senior level Science and Engineering Fair is life long achievement.   I congratulate them for a job well done!"

==============

Combining my love for competition and interest in science was something I did from early on in my career. 

I also liked to do “action research” to evaluate initiatives in my class and department.

Some of the fun I have  had as a teacher is here!

https://drbreminices.blogspot.com/2019/09/awesome-times-documented.html

“Physics First” was a department wide change in science sequence that I wanted to implement if able to.

It was cool to be able to oversee such a change prior to retirement!

https://physicsfirstworks.blogspot.com/2017/03/physics-first-starter.html

Advanced Placement in Science Advances! 1989-2005!

I appreciate all of the students who responded to my challenge and prodding

with so many wonderful memories!

  

Advanced Placement Science Advances!

August 9, 2005

UMS-Wright students engaged Advanced Placement Science Exams (distributed by the College Board) in Science for 2004-5 school year with numerous successes. During the last academic year UMS-Wright had the second highest number of passing scores (in the school history) on Science Advanced Placement Exams (22 passing scores). Students took and passed exams in every AP-Science discipline including Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Physics. Typically only the most academically dedicated students (mostly seniors) take and pass AP Science exams.

In the years from 1989-1996 Advanced placement science exams passed never exceeded 6 and only one "Highest Recommendation" was earned in that y year period.  During the years 1997-2005 the number of students passing Advanced Science classes has increased to about 20 a year and 21 of the scores had the "Highest Recommendation" earned in that 7 year period.  The improvement in performance was phenomenal.

In 2005 Bernard (Beko) Binder and Russ Terry made the highest possible scores in both the Chemistry and Biology Advanced Placement (AP) Exams. Bradley Elliot obtained the highest Possible score in the Chemistry AP exam and also passed the Biology Exam. Olivia Clare Barrett passed two AP Science Exams in the same year (Chemistry and Biology). Passing two AP Science exams in the same year is considered to be a significant challenge for even the best of students.

Beko Binder passed four different AP Science Exams while a student at UMS-Wright! Beko earned the highest possible scores in three of the four AP Science exams he took (Physics with Calculus in 2004, Chemistry and Biology in 2005). Beko also passed the AP Physics exam as a sophomore in 2003.

Students passing the Biology AP Exam in 2005 included Beko Binder, Russ Terry, Stuart White, Olivia Barrett, Bradley Eichold, Bradley Elliot, James Galle, Kate Luce and Whitney Vautier.

Students passing the 2005 Chemistry AP Exam included Beko Binder, Russ Terry, Bradley Elliot, Olivia Barrett, Richard Ellisor, Jordan Schnieder and Selwyn Turner.

Passing scores in the 2005 Environmental Science AP Exam were earned by Andrew Dunning, Allison Garstecki, Gertrude Inge and Andrew Mazey.

An entire AP Physics class passed for the fourth consecutive year (Physics with Calculus in 2002, 2003 & 2004 and general Physics in 2005). Students passing the general Physics AP exam included Joseph Bowron (a junior) and Mathew Peterson (a sophomore).

The AP Science exams are considered among the most rigorous offered by the College Board. It is a genuine sign of achievement when a school of any size obtains passing scores in every available AP Science subject. Dr. Burgess (UMS-Wright Science Chair) said "It is possible to have such achievements because of the ideals and support of the entire school community. It is amazing that each year students with character and talent always step up to the challenge of becoming part of a distinguished history of achievement at UMS-Wright."

==============

Combining my love for competition and interest in science was something I did from early on in my career. 

I also liked to do “action research” to evaluate initiatives in my class and department.

Some of the fun I have  had as a teacher is here!

https://drbreminices.blogspot.com/2019/09/awesome-times-documented.html

“Physics First” was a department wide change in science sequence that I wanted to implement if able to.

It was cool to be able to oversee such a change prior to retirement!

https://physicsfirstworks.blogspot.com/2017/03/physics-first-starter.html

Multiple Winners at Computational Expo 2005!

I appreciate all of the students who responded to my challenge and prodding

with so many wonderful memories!

PRESS RELEASE

April 23, 2005
Auburn University Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama

Multiple Winners at

Statewide 2005 Computational EXPO!

       The Alabama Computational EXPO 2005 was hosted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Auburn University Montgomery on April 22, 2005. UMS-Wright students won top recognition for performance on a research project, in written problem solving exams and in an essay contest. This was the 8th consecutive year that UMS-Wright placed winners in a high school division. Students in the "Computational Physics" class and/or "Computational Chemistry" class are required to write a program in computer code (BASIC. FORTRAN, C++, JAVA) to predict the results of some physical event and then compare this result with data from the actual event. The class is provided and extra 2 days of class each well.

       A research project titled “Physics by Hand: The Physics of Breaking Boards” by Evan Wilson, Andrew MacRae and Ken McElhaney won 2nd Place in the high school division for precalculus programming students. This research project investigated the forces and impulses applied to wooden boards shattered by martial arts experts. Special computer interfaced technology in the UMS-Wright Physics Research Lab were used in this research to measure and analyze forces applied over small fractions of a second.

       Evan Wilson won the “Deltacom Essay” award. Evan’s essay addressed a question concerning “the impact of using research on my learning in the classroom.” Evan discussed how his interest in a martial arts research project inspired him to learn more Physics. His written expression was identified as the best of the seventy papers submitted at the competition.

       All of the UMS-Wright competitors were identified among the top 15 scores among all students at this statewide competition in the written “Problem Solving Test.” The "Problem Solving Test” required competitors endure a grueling and difficult 90 minute test with a variety of presented word problems. The problems required students to make assumptions, extract relevant information on and apply quantitative reasoning to unfamiliar contexts.Bradley Johns, Evan Wilson, Andrew MacRae, Ken McElhaney and Matthew Peterson were recognized and provided with certificates documenting their outstanding performance.

       Matthew Peterson of UMS-Wright was recognized for obtaining the highest score on the written “Problem Solving Test” at the competition. Matthew was provided with an award, plaque and a $1,000 scholarship (to the University of Alabama at Huntsville). 

       Every UMS-Wright participant at the statewide Computational EXPO 2005 earned recognition in at least one competitive event.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Mr. Ed Lathan, Principal
Ms. Jane Williams, Academic Dean
UMS-Wright Preparatory School
334-479-6551 Ext 152 Fax: 334-470-9050

==============

Combining my love for competition and interest in science was something I did from early on in my career. 

I also liked to do “action research” to evaluate initiatives in my class and department.

Some of the fun I have  had as a teacher is here!

https://drbreminices.blogspot.com/2019/09/awesome-times-documented.html

“Physics First” was a department wide change in science sequence that I wanted to implement if able to.

It was cool to be able to oversee such a change prior to retirement!

https://physicsfirstworks.blogspot.com/2017/03/physics-first-starter.html