Top high school chemistry students earn awards at MTSU tournament

Middle Tennessee State University College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Greg Van Patten, left, and Chemistry Department associate professor and tournament director Mengliang “Mike” Zhang, right, are shown with winners and top finishers in the Chemistry Scholarship Tournament, held in the MTSU Science Building in early November. Page High School’s Evan Ingmire, second from left, placed second behind overall winner Sophie McAtee of Ravenwood High, while Jackson Stinson of Summit High finished third and Brayden Zhang, no relation to the event director, earned top junior honors. Stinson was the top junior in 2022. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Outstanding high school chemistry students from across the region participated in the recent Middle Tennessee State University Department of Chemistry Scholarship Tournament.

Held in the Science Building in early November, the competition recognized 45 outstanding chemistry students from 14 schools in Rutherford and surrounding counties. Participants included 29 seniors and 16 juniors who had completed a year of chemistry.

Sophie McAtee, left, of Brentwood, Tenn., a Ravenwood High School senior, receives the first-place prize — plus a $2,000 scholarship — from Greg Van Patten, dean of the Middle Tennessee State University College of Basic and Applied Sciences recently during the awards ceremony for the annual MTSU Chemistry Tournament. Forty-five high school students from around the region participated in the event, held in the MTSU Science Building. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Incentives included scholarships to attend MTSU and cash awards to the top three seniors and one top junior from the 90-minute exam based on general chemistry that a high school student would have covered.

While on campus, they received an up-close look at the facilities as the consider MTSU as their college choice. The tournament is a way for the Chemistry Department to recruit exceptional students for 2024 and beyond.

Students came from Rockvale, Siegel, and Central Magnet high schools in Rutherford County; Independence, Ravenwood, Summit, Renaissance, Page and Nolensville high schools in Williamson County; MLK Academic Magnet and Hume-Fogg Academic high schools in Nashville; Lawrence County High School; Columbia Central High School in Maury County; and Cascade High School in Bedford County.

Page High School senior Evan Ingmire, left, of Franklin, Tenn., placed second and won a $1,500 scholarship and $300 cash prize, presented by Middle Tennessee State University College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Greg Van Patten in the recent MTSU Department of Chemistry Tournament, held in the MTSU Science Building. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Sophie McAtee of Brentwood, a Ravenwood senior, earned first place and received a $2,000 MTSU scholarship and $500 cash award. Page High School senior Evan Ingmire of Franklin placed second and won a $1,500 scholarship and $300 cash prize. Summit High School’s Jackson Stinson placed third, earning a $1,000 scholarship and $100 in cash.

Brayden Zhang, left, of Franklin, Tenn., a Ravenwood High School student, receives a $100 ceremonial from Middle Tennessee State University College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Greg Van Patten for earning top junior honors in the annual Chemistry Tournament, held in the MTSU Science Building in early November. (MTSU photo by James Cessna) — Brayden Zhang, left, of Franklin, Tenn., a Ravenwood High School student, receives a $100 ceremonial check from Middle Tennessee State University College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Greg Van Patten for earning top junior honors in the annual Chemistry Tournament, held in the MTSU Science Building in early November. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Brayden Zhang, of Franklin, was the top junior. The Ravenwood student earned $100.

Mengliang "Mike" Zhang, MTSU Chemistry associate professor and Chemistry Scholarship Tournament director — Dr. Mengliang “Mike” Zhang

“This is our largest tournament since we restarted the event in 2021. It is great to see so many students, parents and teachers visit us and show strong interest in various programs offered at MTSU,” said associate professor Mengliang “Mike” Zhang, the 2023 tournament chair.

After the chemistry exam, the students enjoyed the presentation from Eric B. Miller in the program advising office. MTSU students in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Forensic Science and Biology shared their experience at MTSU and led the groups to tour the 250,000-square-foot Science Building, Zhang said.

Jackson “Jack” Stinson, left, a senior at Summit High School in Spring Hill, Tenn., receives his third-place award from Middle Tennessee State University College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Greg Van Patten at the end of the annual MTSU Chemistry Tournament, held recently in the Science Building. Stinson was the top junior last year. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Kevin Cavey, a molecular biosciences doctoral student, created a live demonstration of real-time chemical analysis with the mass spectrometer, a technique could be used in forensic applications, food science and beyond. “The students had fun time watching the demonstration and asked interesting and creative questions,” Zhang added.

“The students also had a fun time watching a demonstration in my group to see how to detect trace chemicals from a $5 bill in seconds with an analytical instrument called DART-MS, which is widely used in forensic labs,” Zhang added.

The participants enjoyed lunch with College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Greg Van Patten, the former Chemistry Department chair. He shared remarks and presented students with their awards at the Nov. 4 event. Students also received a certificate for their outstanding participation in the event.

Chemistry is one of 11 departments in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, a sponsor along with the MTSU Women in STEM Center, University Honors College and MT One Stop.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)