Students from Otumoetai College took out the top prize at the University of Waikato's ChemQuest challenge held on October 17 on campus.

First place went to Year 12 students, John Austin, Alice Cerdeira and Daniel Lee who were awarded the ChemQuest trophy and $150.

The annual chemistry quiz gives Year 12 chemistry students the chance to put their chemistry knowledge to the test in a pop quiz-style challenge.

The event was attended by almost 150 students, made up of 47 teams of three. Second place went to Tauranga Boys' College, third place was awarded to a team from Western Heights High School in Rotorua and teams from Hamilton Boys' High School took out fourth and fifth places.

'It's fantastic to see students from across the central North Island enjoying ChemQuest, which continues to be an extremely popular event. It is a competition but there are plenty of different types of questions covering a wide range of knowledge and interests and regardless of the results, students always have a great time,” says event organiser Michèle Prinsep.

'As well as covering chemistry, the quiz is an opportunity for students considering coming to university to see some of the Waikato campus and to experience the atmosphere of a large lecture theatre.”