A fifth-grade student from Upper St. Clair recently placed second in the nation in the 2021 National Chemistry Week Picture Poem Contest, sponsored by the American Chemical Society.
Boyce Middle School student Mira Murthy qualified for the national competition by winning first place in the regional competition, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Chemical Society.
As part of National Chemistry Week 2021, K-12 students were invited to share their take on the theme “Fast or Slow… Chemistry Makes It Go!” in the form of illustrated poems. The winners at the local chapter level qualified for the national competition.
Nationally, first and second place awards were given out in four categories: K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12. .
Poems can be written in any style. Entries were judged on relevance and incorporation of theme, choice of words and images, colorful illustrations, adherence to poem style, originality and creativity, and general presentation.
Murthy earned additional honors for his writing and illustrations.
In October, she earned an honorable mention at the fifth annual Mahatma Gandhi Writing and Creative Art Competition for her illustrated poem. Additionally, she has won several awards at the annual Arts in USC competition, sponsored by the Upper St. Clair Parent Teacher Council.
