UA Awards Winners of High School Physics Contest

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — More than 150 students representing 16 schools recently competed in The University of Alabama’s 41^st annual high school physics contest.

Students compete for top honors through a series of tests and competitions during the event, sponsored by UA’s department of physics and astronomy.

The top two finishers in the written exam who choose to attend UA will receive four-year, in-state tuition scholarships. Students who do well in the competition are invited to apply to the E. Scott Barr Scholarship program that awards scholarships to students majoring in physics.

In addition to the student competition, the event includes programs for teachers, an open panel discussion on career opportunities in physics and informal opportunities to experience life at UA.

This year’s event also included demonstrations of physics principles by Dr. Rainer Schad, UA professor of physics.

Top individual winners:

1. Junzhe Bao (Indian Springs School, Pelham)
2. Andy Zhao (Mississippi School for Math and Science, Columbus)
3. Tanuj Alapati (Randolph School, Huntsville)
4. Yunzhe Shao (Indian Springs School)
5. Gary Nguyen (MSMS)
6. William Stevens (Auburn High School)
7. Sihun Song (Auburn High School)
8. Soohyun Kim (Auburn High School)
9. Mohammad Zuaiter (Oak Mountain High School, Birmingham)
10. Leah Pettit (MSMS)

Team awards:

Large public schools:

1. Auburn High School, Team A
2. Oak Mountain High School, Team B
3. Oak Mountain High School, Team E

Small public schools:

1. Straughn High School, Andalusia,Team A
2. Ranburne High School, Team C
3. Straughn High School, Team B

Private schools:

1. McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, Mobile, Team A
2. Indian Springs School, Team A
3. McGill-Toolen, Team B

Magnet schools:

1. Mississippi School for Math and Science, Team A
2. MSMS, Team C
3. MSMS, Team B

Team overall:

1. Auburn High School, Team A
2. Oak Mountain High School, Team B
3. McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, Team A

School overall:

1. Auburn High School
2. Oak Mountain High School
3. McGill-Toolen Catholic High School

Laura Steltenpohl, of Auburn High School, won the Scott Barr Award, which is endowed annually to someone who has advanced the teaching of physics.

UA’s physics and astronomy department is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes and Goldwater scholarships.