CACS Young Chemist Award Program

Andy Xu is a senior at Montgomery High School who has both an outstanding academic record and excellent extra-curricular background. Andy has taken multiple AP courses and has received the AP Scholar award and is a National Merit Finalist. Andy has participated in several internships related to the area of chemistry throughout his high school career. Andy is also an active member of his high school music program, and is a member of the marching band, jazz band and concert band. He has also contributed to the community through his volunteer work which includes annual participation in the CACS Annual Symposium.

Kevin Pu is currently a senior at John P Stevens High School. He is a member of the National Honors Society and the Honor Roll every marking period. He is heavily involved in athletics, music, and volunteering. Kevin is a varsity runner for the John P Stevens High School Cross Country, Winter Track, and Spring Track teams. He ran in the Groups race in cross country, a feat that only the 5 fastest schools in the North Jersey Region qualify to run in. In music, Kevin was accepted to CJMEA Regions Orchestra and NJMEA All-State Orchestra for every year that he could audition. He was accepted to the All-National Orchestra as an Alternate, and was the first violist in the history of his school to be accepted to All-Eastern Orchestra, an orchestra consisting of the best high school musicians on the east coast. Kevin is also heavily involved in volunteering at a local nursing home. Kevin founded and performs with a quartet at the nursing home every week for the residents. He also organizes and runs various events at the nursing home to entertain the residents.

Boning Zhao is currently a senior at Highland Park High School. During the summer of 2011, Boning interned at the Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research at the Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy. During his eight weeks at the laboratory, Boning helped research the effect of various compounds on the growth of cancer cells. In addition to his rigorous academic course schedule, Boning is an active participant in various extra-curricular activities as well (including Science Bowl, Science leagues, Model United Nations, and DECA). Boning passed the ABRSM grade 8 violin exam and won various medals from DECA competitions. Boning displays his academic excellence through not only his academic record, but also his leadership as captain of the Highland Park Frisbee team and musicality across various orchestras, both in and out of school.

Simon Song is currently a senior at Montgomery High School. His most important extracurricular activity is his involvement with FIRST Team 1403 Cougar Robotics, where he has been the programming captain for the past two years. Not only has he attended the National Championships twice since his freshman year, under his guidance the team has won several regional awards and has appeared on a CNN documentary by Soledad O'Brien. Furthermore, Simon also has a research position at Princeton University in the Atomic Physics Department, and has expanded his knowledge of LABView from robotics to a professional laboratory setting. He has been recognized as National AP Scholar by the end of his junior year and a National Merit Finalist his senior. Outside of academics, Simon is a member of the school’s cross country team, Asian Heritage Club, and Academic Club.

Raymond Hu, a senior at Montgomery High School, has a very impressive academic record. He has won multiple honors and awards, including the Sophomore Outstanding Achievement Award in Math, AP Scholar with Distinction, and the school nomination for the New Jersey Governor’s School of Engineering. He has also participated in many prestigious summer endeavors ranging from the Carnegie Mellon AP/EA program in Pittsburgh to the University of Surrey research internship in United Kingdom. Outside of the world of academia, Raymond is also an accomplished musician who has participated in the NJAJE Region II Jazz Band, an active member of his musical community as the music director of the community service group Young Musicians for Volunteer Action, and a respected leader in his school’s marching band, jazz band, and wind ensemble.

Linda Zhen is currently a senior at Conestoga High School. As an active member of her school's music department, she has achieved multiple leadership positions including student conductor, choir librarian, and color guard captain. Her efforts towards the various musical ensembles have earned her recognition from her teachers and peers, as well as two awards for service and leadership. In addition to her work in the music department, Linda is also a member of her school's National Honor Society, where members are selected based on their academic excellence, upstanding character, and service to their communities. After high school, Linda plans to continue her studies at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mitchell Ng is a senior at Montgomery High School. Taking the most rigorous course load in his school which currently includes two classes at Princeton University, he has a strong academic record. He participated in a wide range of research internships in subjects ranging from molecular biology to atomic physics to finance and has independently published in several journals. A National AP Scholar by the end of junior year and pending National Merit Finalist, he has won a wide range of academic and service awards and is a Coca-Cola Semi-finalist. From being president/captain of several organizations including the MHS Asian Heritage Club to being an ambulance riding member of the Princeton EMS and being an All-Academic American First Team varsity sabre fencer, among many other things, he leads his peers in a wide range of extracurricular activities. Accepted into Princeton University Class of 2016 via early action, he intends to major in chemistry or chemical/biological engineering.

Richard Dong, currently a senior at Montgomery High School of New Jersey, His interest to chemistry started in his freshman year. He has started taking AP courses since his sophomore year, scoring 5 for AP Chemistry. He has been a straight A student since entering high school. His extra curriculum achievements include the regional engineering inspiration award at NJ Robotics Competition and 1st place in Somerset County Academica League.

Richard Zhang, currently a senior at Montgomery High School, has a very impressive academic record. Richard is Sr. Captain of the Montgomery Science Olympiad Team and won many individual and team medals in the central regional and New Jersey state academic competitions. He has taken many AP courses. He scored a perfect 800 in SAT II in chemistry, Math and Physics. His other extra curriculum activities included Varsity Golf.

Hanley Ong is a junior at Montgomery High School. Hanley has started taking AP courses. Hanley won the Grade Outstanding Achievement Award in Science, an award to the best students (1# out of 425 students) taking chemistry courses, and many individual and team medals in the central regional and New Jersey state academic competitions. Hanley is the founder and president of Tutoring and Coaching for Charity.

Tracy Wang, currently a senior at Watchung Hills Regional High School, has a very impressive academic record. She intends to pursue a double-major in chemistry and business management or economics in college. She has received many awards such as National Merit Commendation, AP Scholar with Honor Award, National Honor Society, and National English Honor Society, and won individual and team medals in the regional and New Jersey state academic competitions. Her other extra curriculum achievements include the Winner of 3rd Annual Young Artist Music Competition (Piano) of American-Asian Fine Arts Association (recital at Carnegie Hall), and Royal Academy of Music (UK) (teaching beginners at Mila Music School).

Jonathan Yao is a senior at Princeton High School. During eight weeks in the summer of 2009, Jonathan worked with Prof. Charles Dismukes at the Chemistry Dept of Princeton Univ. The research is about increasing fermentation rates of the cyanobacteria synechocystis Sp. 6803 strand. Jonathan scored a perfect 800 in SAT II in Chemistry, and Math. In the summer of 2010, Jonathan jointed a three-students research group at Rutgers.