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2025 was another very successful year for the Orange County section of the American Chemical Society (OCACS), in particular, our High School educational events which were managed by Stacey Hamamura and Stephanie Nobles, the new chairs of the OCACS Education Committee.

Click on the links to open the page that describes the event:

• The Chemistry Olympiad attracted a large number of students for the first round held in early March, 2025. In April a select group of 12 high-performing students competed to attend the US National Chemistry Olympiad.
• The College Awards Dinner was held in April, 2025, at which the most outstanding student at each College and University in the County was recognized.
• The High School First Year Exam was conducted in April, 2025. A total of 197 students from 28 High Schools participated.
• OCACS was selected as a finalist in two categories for the 2025 ACS ChemLuminary Awards:
  • Most Creative National Chemistry Week Celebration Using the Yearly Theme
  • Outstanding High School Student Program – which won the ChemLuminary Award announced at the National Meeting held in Washington DC in August!
• The OCACS Chemistry Awards Banquet was held in May at Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa. A number of Orange County awards are presented at this annual event, including:
  • The winners in the Chemistry Olympiad, the High School First Year Chemistry Exam and the Orange County Science Fair
  • The Teacher of the Year Award by Andrea Chou
  • The 2025 OCACS Volunteer of the Year plaque was awarded to Dr. Allison Gotoh, who has run the OCACS College Awards Program for many years.
• National Chemistry Week was held at the Santa Ana Zoo in October, 2025.
• A number of OCACS Member Dinners with scientific presentations were held through the year.