The USNCO is an elite competition organized by the American Chemistry Society (ACS), aimed at improving the quality of science education across the nation. Its goal is to increase student interest in science while recognizing students and teachers who excel in specific areas.
The competition begins with a local exam in March, with approximately 10,000 students participating nationwide. However, only a select 1,000 advance to the National Exam. This exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering advanced chemistry topics, free response problems in organic and physical chemistry, and a hands-on laboratory practical.
Junior Nolan McCracken, along with teammates Reece Bonhomme ‘25 and Adrian Morales ‘25, co-hosted Cathedral’s Chemistry Club, meeting twice a month to engage their peers in chemistry through hands-on experiments and Olympiad-style practice problems.
Preparing for this exam is demanding, as students must balance their various classes and extracurricular activities while dedicating time to studying for the competition. McCraken takes several AP classes and is also enrolled in an Independent Chemistry Course with AP Chemistry teacher Vicki Roessler. To prepare, his team uses past exams from the ACS website to practice and works collaboratively to tackle challenging concepts or problems.
This year the Cathedral Chemistry Team placed 5th in its first-ever competition in the same qualifying event as Mckraken. McCracken said, “We competed at Zionsville High School alongside teams from Carmel, Zionsville, Culver, HSE, Center Grove, and Brebeuf.”
His teammates play a crucial role in his success. Despite being a relatively small team, their collaboration fosters an environment where they can encourage each other to improve, break down complex concepts, and celebrate each other’s achievements. McCracken said, “Though the Olympiad is an individual competition, the experience of preparing and competing alongside such intelligent teammates made it incredibly rewarding.”
The National event not only provides McCraken an opportunity to test his skill against some of the best chemistry students in Indiana, but it also allows him to gain a deeper understanding of topics that extend beyond the high school curriculum. He is scheduled to take the national exam in April so as the dates approach, he will continue to work hard to make the Fighting Irish proud.
“The competition is rigorous, but that challenge is what makes it so rewarding,”
