A team of Monument Brandenburg employees recently participated in the Meade County You Be The Chemist initiative – the flagship program of the Chemical Educational Foundation® (CEF).  ­The CEF is a nationally recognized, award winning non-profit organization committed to enhancing science education among every generation, beginning with our youth. 

The You Be The Chemist program focuses on grades K-8 and is designed to:

• Inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and industry leaders.
• Enhance science education through innovative techniques, such as hands-on activities and chemistry competitions.
• Effect positive long-term change in the general public's understanding of, participation in, and appreciation towards chemistry, chemicals, and the chemical industry.

Monument Kentucky enthusiastically supports the local competition with a monetary donation, and also with volunteer chemists and engineers – some who graduated from Meade County High School.  Monument is also a proud sponsor of the National Competition. This sustains the legacy support which has been provided for more than a decade. 

The Meade County school system You Be The Chemist Local Challenge took place on February 20, 2019 in the Performing Arts Center at Meade County High School. Judging was performed by Monument employees: Rachel Flaherty, Lauren Hamilton, and Mike Purvis.

The format of the competition used multiple choice questions that were extracted from the You Be The Chemist study guide material.  Students have access to the You Be The Chemist website where they can gather more knowledge and quiz themselves using sample questions. The competition consisted of four rounds (Preliminary, Intermediate, Semifinal, and Championship). Rachel Flaherty presented awards to all the competitors for participation along with trophies for the four finalists. 

The You Be The Chemist State Challenge will take place on April 27 (location to be announced soon).  There will be 26 competitors, including the top eight Meade County finalists.  The student that emerges as the state champion will then go to Washington, DC to compete in the YBTC National Challenge on Monday, June 17.  

Congratulations to the Meade County finalists: (left to right) James Johnson, Emilee Staubs, Dakota Cook, Emma Goins, Paul Slack, Colin Butler, Tyler Borden, and Tre Sadler – and a big thank you to our Monument volunteers for inspiring tomorrow’s scientists and spotlighting the central role of chemistry in all the sciences and in our everyday lives!