Iolani grad
bypassed parties
for physics

By Pete Pichaske
Phillips News Service

WASHINGTON -- After graduation this spring, most high school seniors headed for the beach or friends' houses to party. Tanner Fahl, valedictorian at Iolani School, headed for the mainland to study physics.

"Yes, I'm disappointed to have left my friends and all the parties," said Tanner, 18, who took off for the mainland the night of his graduation, June 5.

"But I'm also very honored to be here. I'm meeting a lot of really, really smart people and there's so much to learn. So it's worth it."

Tanner is one of 24 teen-agers selected by the American Institute of Physics and the American Association of Physics Teachers to compete for one of five slots on the U.S. team at the XXX International Physics Olympiad, July 18-27 in Padova, Italy.

They are the cream of American high school physics students, picked from thousands of students across the country. And for their hard work, they get to spend six days -- from sunup to sundown -- at a physics training camp at the University of Maryland in College Park, just outside of Washington.

"We think these are the top 24 kids in the nation in physics," said Dr. James Stith, director of physics programs for the American Institute of Physics. "They spend the entire week taking a series of examinations and being prepared to compete. It is a grueling week, in one sense. But in another sense, it's also rewarding."

Many of the students, explained Stith, have never come across other students so bright and knowledgeable, or faced academic training as rigorous.

Tanner wouldn't argue.

"It's the most intellectually demanding thing I've ever done," he said. "In four days, I've had 12 hours of exams, eight hours of labs and lots of lectures."

The Olympiad members will be picked Saturday, and Tanner is not counting on making the team.

"There are so many smart people here," he said, noting that three of the 24 were on last year's team and presumably have a leg up on the others.

Still, even if he isn't picked, the week was hardly a loss. Besides the intellectual stimulation, Tanner picked up $1,000 for finishing third in the national "Physicsbowl" competition. A classmate at Iolani, Kalani Oshiro, finished fifth, and their school finished first in its region.

This fall, Tanner will take his special physics training and his 4.38 grade point average to Harvard. But his major is not a given.

"I haven't a clue," he said. "It could be physics, but I don't know. It will be interesting to see."