Sister Carol Anne coaches Hendricken team to sweep of chemistry awards

Joseph Catalfamo
Posted 5/28/15

Bishop Hendricken made school history capturing all eight trophies in the Annual Chemistry High School Competition at the University of Rhode Island on May 19.

About 20 schools from across the …

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Sister Carol Anne coaches Hendricken team to sweep of chemistry awards

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Bishop Hendricken made school history capturing all eight trophies in the Annual Chemistry High School Competition at the University of Rhode Island on May 19.

About 20 schools from across the state competed in the competition started in 1921. Each team was divided into two levels: division 1 and division 2. The division 1 team being for students who have taken only one year of chemistry, while division 2 was reserved for those who had taken two years.

The competition was focused on a 45-question multiple choice test, which the students had an hour to complete. For such a grueling test, it was no surprise when Tharun Somasunder, a member of the division 1 team, said, “Hydration was key.”

Members of the Hendricken division 1 team who won trophies were Tharun Somasunder, Max Miranda and Haoyang Cia. They placed first, second and third, respectively. As for Hendricken’s division 2 team, Nathan Meehan took home first, Riley Chabot grabbed second, and Andrew Denkewicz rounded out the winner circle, coming in third. Chemistry teacher Sister Carol Anne Murray coached the team.

Ricky Yao, a member of this year’s team, said, “Sister is never afraid to say what’s on her mind. If you are wrong, she will be sure to tell you. She will call you ‘a dip,’ and then tell you that her ‘hinges are about to fly off in 40 directions.’ But teaching is not about stroking the ego, it’s about getting results. This is something of which Sister understands better than anybody in the game. And, after this win, it is an attitude for which I can only be grateful.”

Sister Carol Anne has coached the school’s Academic Decathlon team to a state championship for several consecutive years and recently returned from the nationals.

Speaking of Murray’s preparation tactics, Dave Such, who had the experience of such instruction in 2011 and now attends URI, said, “You got to be kidding me! It’s all about Sister’s teaching.” Then, when asked to sum up his experience, all he had to say was, “She’s prodigy.”

Eric Olsen, who graduated in 2013 and now attends Bentley University, said, “With this recent win, the larger-than-life Carol Anne cements her place in the history books for years to come.”

As Jay Brennan, principal of the school, said, “This adds to the legend of Sister Carol Anne…who always demands the best of her students.”

And best she got.

Comments

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  • BrianGuidel

    As a former student of Sister Carol Anne's I know she will not be happy with this article.

    Thursday, May 28, 2015 Report this

  • ASAP1234

    Does @BrianGuidel even lift???

    Thursday, May 28, 2015 Report this