M-DCPS STUDENTS ARE MATH AND SCIENCE CHAMPIONS

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) continues to produce champions in various math and science competitions, particularly in two very prestigious organizations that have thousands competing nationwide for a few coveted spots in the winner’s circle.

The 10th annual Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement recognizes and honors the top performing high school students and high schools in Advanced Placement math and science courses.  Two winners are chosen per state and since 2004, a Miami Palmetto Senior High student has been among the winners.  This year was no different. Rui Yang of Palmetto High received a 5 – the highest score – on the Advanced Placement exams in biology, calculus, chemistry, environmental science, statistics, physics mechanics, and physics electricity and magnetism.  Palmetto High itself was awarded for being the only high school in the State of Florida with the highest number of students achieving the highest score of 5 on the most number of Advanced Placement exams. This is an incredible achievement for a large urban high school and demonstrates the intense commitment to academic rigor and achievement of the students, teachers and staff of the school.

The Intel Science Talent Search is America’s oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition, known as the “junior Nobel Prize.”  Every year, more than 1,700 American high school students enter the competition by submitting original projects from a wide range of mathematics and science disciplines. The field of 1,700 is narrowed down to 300 semifinalists, and then to 40 finalists.  High school students have the opportunity to have their original projects recognized by a national jury of highly regarded professional scientists.

This year, 12 students in the state of Florida were named semifinalists. Among those 12 were three: Alexander Li and Yunxin Jiao from Palmetto High and Chen Lossos from Dr. Michael Krop Senior High.  Each semifinalist receives $1,000 and another $1,000 is awarded to each of their schools.

Intel, which assumed the title sponsorship in 1998 formerly held by Westinghouse, increased the annual awards and scholarships from $207,000 to $1.25 million.  Both organizations seek to expand and strengthen the pool of math, science and technology talent needed for the continued growth of business and industry in the U.S. and globally.