COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 22

December 5, 2006

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE/SECONDARY

TO:

Principals

 

FROM:

Linda M. Wallinger

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction

 

SUBJECT:

The Center for Excellence in Education

 

The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) nurtures careers of excellence and leadership in science and technology for academically talented high school and college students. The CEE programs challenge students and assist them on a long-term basis to become creators, inventors, scientists, and leaders of the 21st century. The Center sponsors two programs for high school students: the Research Science Institute (RSI) and the USA Biology Olympiad.

 

The Research Science Institute is a summer science program that combines on-campus course work in scientific theory with off-campus work in scientific research. Students work under mentors who are scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Students selected from the United States and other nations attend college-level classes taught by distinguished professors. Approximately 80 high school students are selected each summer to participate in this unique experience. There is no cost to students for tuition, room, or board. For more information please see the following website at http://www.cee.org/rsi/index.shtml.

 

The USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) focuses on stimulating young scholars' intellectual curiosity and developing their critical thinking skills in biological reasoning. The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is the annual World Championship Biology Competition for high school students. Currently, international academic Olympiads are held annually in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, biology, and astronomy.

 

The USA Biology Olympiad and the International Biology Olympiad award individual achievement in theoretical and practical biology knowledge and understanding. The top four medal winners from the USA Biology Olympiad National Finals, the U.S. Team, are invited to represent the United States at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). The 2007 IBO will be held in July, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. For more information regarding the USABO, please see the following website at http://www.cee.org/usabo/index.shtml.

 

For further information, please contact Paula Klonowski, science coordinator, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, by e-mail at Paula.Klonowski@doe.virginia.gov, or by telephone at (804) 371-0249.

 

LMW/PJK/yba