We are pleased to announce that the San Gorgonio Local Section will be participating in the 2026 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO). The primary goals of this program are to stimulate interest and achievement in chemistry among high school students throughout the United States and to provide recognition of outstanding students, teachers, and schools. Students in AP or IB chemistry are encouraged to participate.

We have the privilege of nominating twelve qualified students to the National exam.  The Local Section exam will be used to identify these students.  The results of this exam will also be used to select students who will receive San Gorgonio Section scholarships of up to $1200 that can be used for college expenses. 

The twenty students nationwide with the highest scores on the National exam will be invited to attend a two-week study camp in June.  At the end of camp, four students will be selected based on a combination of objective and subjective evaluations as the United States team to participate at the International Chemistry Olympiad.   Here is the schedule for this year’s program:

January 31 Deadline to register                 

March 8-15 Local Exam

April 10-19 National Exam (Specific Date TBD)

June                                 Study Camp (Specific Date TBD)

July                     International Chemistry Olympiad (Specific Date TBD)

Students from our Section who are nominated to participate in the U. S. National Chemistry Olympiad and as San Gorgonio Section scholarship winners will be honored at a dinner in May, along with their teachers.  The student from each participating school who attains the highest score on the Local Section exam together with his or her teacher will also be honored.  

If you wish to register a student for the 2026 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad program, please use this link.  Students must be registered by their parents or guardians. The deadline to register students is January 31, 2026.

For more information about the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad program and for past exams, click here. For information about the San Gorgonio local exam, email Dennis Pederson (dennis.pederson@gmail.com) or Eileen DiMauro (edimauro@mtsac.edu).