Dr. G.W. Williams S.S. student Brian Park earned a perfect score on the University of Waterloo’s Avogadro Exam with a perfect score.
Almost 3,000 chemistry students from over 270 schools participated in the exam for Grade 11 students, with an average score of 58.7 per cent, according to data from the University of Waterloo.
“He puts forth meticulous effort into everything he does and he made time, in addition to his regular classwork, to prepare for the contest,” said Karen Almeida, Park’s IB Chemistry teacher. She encouraged all chemistry students to take the exam. “A perfect score on this contest doesn’t come from memorizing facts or formulas, it comes from years of learning, understanding and practicing,” she added.
“I had a good feeling about the contest as chemistry was always something that interested me and a discipline I pursued out of school, but I never thought I would have come in first place since it is a contest taken by many students throughout Canada and the world,” said Park, a Grade 11 student, who plans to pursue chemistry after he graduates from high school.
Park offered some words of encouragement to students looking to pursue a specific interest. “I just want to tell all students who may be reading this story to not be afraid to pursue whatever they may be passionate about. Make use of all the opportunities you are provided with. I initially took the Avogadro contest because it was simply a subject I liked, however, it fortunately led to this great achievement which I am extremely proud of.”
York Region District School Board is the third largest school district in Ontario with over 128,000 students in 180 elementary schools and 33 secondary schools. York Region students consistently perform above average in provincial testing and the Board is one of the top achievers in Ontario. For more information about the York Region District School Board, please visit the Board website and follow YRDSB on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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